MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.  The spring segment of Division III Methodist's men's tennis schedule began Saturday with a leap up a division, as the Monarchs traveled to D-II University of Mount Olive for a pair of matches won by the Trojans, 6-1 and 7-0.

The lone winner on the day for Methodist was junior Henry Blanco, who earned a 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-5) win at No. 6 singles in the afternoon's opening match.

Junior Coleman Baker pushed Mount Olive's Milosh Petrovic at 2-singles in that match, dropping a two-set decision but not without challenging Petrovic.

Baker rebounded from a 6-1 opening set loss by extending Petrovic into a set tiebreak in the second. Points away from evening the set Baker finally succumbed to the Trojan, 7-6, who won the tiebreaker by a count of 7-3.

Hayden Wilfong played a strong opening set against UMO's Victor Nunez at 3-singles, falling to Nunez by a break, 6-4. Nunez found a rhythm in the second set, 6-0, to take the match.

A second set of Monarchs took on the Trojans in the nightcap under chillier conditions, with freshman Lucas Dunlop proving to be the toughest out for his UMO opponent.

Dunlop took on Petrovic at No. 1 singles, and playing a pro set kept even with Petrovic early before eventually dropping an 8-4 decision.

The Monarchs take another step up in Divisions in their next match, heading to D-I Elon University on Saturday, February 15, while hosting via a split squad a match at home against Montreat College.