ABILENE, Texas – The University of St. Thomas men's tennis team took multiple first-round victories and made an impact in only their second fall event as a program this weekend at the American Southwest Conference Invitational, hosted by Hardin-Simmons University.

Four players claimed two victories apiece in singles play, led by Quashi "Ayo" Philips advancing to the championship round of the Flight "G" bracket. Dorian Cudina won the consolation bracket in Flight "I."

In doubles play, two of UST's three pairings claimed opening-round victories.

Philips headlined UST's showing at the event by cruising to the Flight "G" singles final. He breezed past Albert Hernandez of Howard Payne by a score of 6-0, 6-1 in the opener, and then defeated McMurry's Trey Fambrough 6-1, 6-1. In the final, Philips fell in a hard-fought contest to Concordia Texas' Jorge Garcia by a score of 6-3, 7-5.

Cudina's trip to the consolation title in Flight "I" started with a narrow 7-5, 7-6 (6-2) loss to Schreiner's Christopher Corbett. Cudina then rebounded with a 6-2, 6-2 win over East Texas Baptist's Matt Fuhr, and then defeated Mary Hardin-Baylor's Brandon Huckabee in a single set by a score of 8-5.

The Celts claimed opening-round victories in the top six flights in which they competed. Juan Rodrigo Lopez (Flight "A") and Jace Ware (Flight "F") each won two matches and took third place in their respective flights.

In the doubles events, Michael Hopkins and Race Haas won their opening match in Flight "B", while in Flight "C", Philips and Tyler Head defeated their Hardin-Simmons opponent by a score of 8-5.

The Celts will return to action the weekend of Sept. 26 when they visit Georgetown for the ITA Southwest Regional Tournament.