LYNCHBURG, Va. – Junior Charles Pilet won a pair of matches Friday to lead the Elon men's tennis team on the opening day of the Liberty Dual Tournament.

Playing his first singles match of the fall, Pilet came from behind to beat Liberty's Angel Veliz, forcing a third set after dropping the first before winning the decider 8-6 in a tiebreak. The junior also teamed up for a doubles victory with Michael Kouame as the duo defeated Liberty's tandem of Nathan Pitts and Chase Robinson, 7-5.

Kouame made his Elon debut alongside Noah Gabriel, with both Phoenix playing in doubles and singles. Like Pilet, Gabriel also pushed his singles match into a third set after dropping the first but could not overcome Pitts in the deciding frame.

Friday was Elon's first action under new head coach Dennis Smith, who was hired on Sept. 14.

Play will continue tomorrow at the Liberty Tennis Complex beginning at 9 a.m.
 
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Results
Singles
Charles Pilet (Elon) def. Angel Veliz (Liberty) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6)
Rodrigo Santiago Arraez (Liberty) def. Jack Curtis (Elon) 6-1, 7-5
Nathan Pitts (Liberty) def. Noah Gabriel (Elon) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Benjamin Sparks (Liberty) def. Michael Kouame (Elon) 6-3, 6-4
David Ekpenyong (Liberty) def. Nikola Parichkov (Elon) 7-6 (5), 6-4
Chase Robinson (Liberty) def. Nick Fisk (Elon) 7-5, 6-3
 
Doubles
Michael Kouame/Charles Pilet (Elon) def. Nathan Pitts/Chase Robinson (Liberty) 7-5
Benjamin Sparks/Owen Guistwite (Liberty) def. Noah Gabriel/Nikola Parichkov (Elon) 6-2
Rodrigo Santiago Arraez/Angel Veliz (Liberty) def. Jack Curtis/Nick Fisk (Elon) 6-2