SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Furman men's tennis team opened the 2015 fall season this weekend at the USC Upstate Fall Classic in Spartanburg, S.C.

Freshman Alex Steryous defeated Rajaniv Dhmi of USC Upstate, 7-6, 6-1, to open singles play in the Black draw, and sophomore Galen Arney downed UNC Asheville's Reid Dillon, 6-4, 6-4, in first-round Black draw action.   

In doubles play, Steryous teamed with sophomore Stefan Rhodes for three wins in the White draw.  The Paladin duo defeated Daniel Kripack and Olly Cull of UNC Asheville, 6-2, then topped Parks Schoen and Jack Thomas (Unattached), 6-3.  In the consolation championship, Steryous and Rhodes teamed up to beat Rajanvir Dharni and Lenhard Haupt of USC Upstate, 6-1. 

The Paladins will compete at the Western and Southern Invitational Sept. 18-19 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Julie Paré, Furman Sports Information

Complete Furman Results:

Upstate Fall Classic

Singles Black Draw

Alex Steryous (Furman) def. Rajaniv Dhmi (USC Upstate), 7-6, 6-1

Danny Bruce (Unattached) def. Alex Steryous (Furman), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

Galen Arney (Furman) def. Reid Dillon (UNCA), 6-4, 6-4

Ramon Simonetti (USC Upstate) def. Galen Arney (Furman), 6-0, 6-2

Singles Green Draw

Matt Bennion (USC Upstate) def. Ryan Massinople (Furman), 6-2, 2-6, 6-3

Doubles White Draw

Pattern/Swindler (UNCA) def. Massinople/Arney (Furman), 6-0

Ewers/Bennion (USC Upstate) def. Rhodes/Steryous (Furman), 6-3

Rhodes/Steryous (Furman) def. Kripack/Cull (UNCA), 6-2

Dharni/Haupt (USC Upstate) def. Massinople/Arney (Furman), 7-5

Rhodes/Steryous (Furman) def. Schoen/Thomas, 6-3

Rhodes/Steryous (Furman) def. Dharni/Haupt (USC Upstate), 6-1