ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's tennis team opened the dual season with a 7-2 victory over No. 23 Kenyon. The Panthers – ranked No. 35 – won their first dual match of the season behind a strong performance in doubles.

Chapman swept the doubles points to take an early 3-0 lead in the match. Caleb Wilkins and Ian Jordan continued to be a formidable duo as they won 8-3 to open the match. The Panthers followed with an 8-5 win on the No. 2 court and an 8-4 win at No. 3.

Wilkins – ranked 11th nationally – was forced into a third set in the top singles match but captured the three-set victory in super tiebreaker 7-5, 5-7, 10-6. Kenyon's points came from the Nos. 2-3 matches but the Panthers took all three matches at the bottom of the lineup to clinch the match.

Mac Caldwell and Danny Marsh pulled off straight set victories to clinch the match early and Matt Dewey won in a third set at No. 4.

The Panthers are back on the court on Thursday to take on No. 37 Mary Washington.