(BEDFORD, NS) The UNB REDS saw mixed results on the opening weekend of the 2022-2023 Atlantic University Tennis League season.

The REDS men’s side finished the weekend with a win, three ties and two losses, while the women won twice and lost three.

The matches were played at the Atlantic Tennis Centre, in Bedford, Nova Scotia.

In Friday’s opening round of matches against Acadia, the UNB men tied the Axemen 2-2 with Sam Silberman winning his singles match and Sebastien Dugas-Ruest and Bilal Husain winning their doubles match.

Later, against Saint Mary’s, UNB scored another 2-2 result as Dugas-Ruest won his singles match and Eric Cimic and William Healey won their doubles match.

Dugas-Ruest’s win in singles was a dramatic one. He erased a 7-3 deficit to win 8-7.

“As soon as I got it to 7-4, I knew I had a chance to come back,” said Dugas-Ruest. “I could tell my opponent was getting frustrated and tired, so my plan was just to get the ball back in play and force him to make errors.”

The women struggled on Friday, losing 4-0 to Acadia and 3-1 to Dalhousie. Nikita Sibma and Jennifer Fung won their doubles match against the Tigers for the only women’s win of the day.

“I thought we played well together, considering the circumstances,” said Fung. “We had most of our matches back-to-back and I felt that we did pretty good considering we only have three female players on the team.”

Six of the nine REDS playing on Friday were making their AUTL debuts.

On Saturday, the men beat Dalhousie No. 2 3-1, with Cimic and Dugas-Ruest earning wins in singles play, then lost 3-1 to STFX and tied Memorial 2-2.

The women lost 4-0 to Dal before recording a 4-0 win, via forfeit, over STFX.

On Sunday, the REDS men fell 3-1 to Dal No. 1, with Cimic and Dugas-Ruest winning their doubles match.

UNB was the only team to beat Dal No. 1 in men’s doubles play all weekend.

“I have to give kudos to my partner, Eric Cimic, for that one,” said Dugas-Ruest. “We played a hell of a match. We served well, played the net really well and had a great energy throughout. We won the crucial points.”

The women scored a 3-1 win over Memorial with Sibma and Fung both winning singles matches then teaming up to win a difficult doubles match.

“I think, as a team, we’re in a good spot after weekend one,” said Dugas-Ruest. “We’ll be able to make a run for the championship in March.”

RECAP BY: UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Trevor MacMillan/for UNB Athletics