PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University men's tennis team suffered a 4-0 road loss to Division I La Salle on Saturday afternoon.

The Explorers (3-0) earned the doubles point by sweeping all three matches. Philadelphia (0-2) didn't make it easy as it pushed La Salle to the limit in two of them. The No. 2 doubles match went to a tiebreak where Dale Fetterman and De'Sean Fennell edged out senior Ayman Barakat (Kharkiv, Ukraine/Kharkiv Specialized English School #3) and sophomore Chris Casamassima (Franklin Square, N.Y./St. Mary's) 7-4 to win the match, 9-8. In the No. 3 match, sophomore Dylan Bhaerman (Columbus Ohio/Pickerington North) and junior Long Vo (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) suffered a tough 9-7 loss to Thomas MacLeod and Robert Kasinow.

Barakat fell to Joseph LaBate, 6-3, 6-0, in the No. 2 singles match. Junior Nail Rachidi (Meknes, Morocco/Emilie Anouar) lost to Fetterman in No. 3 action, 6-3, 6-1. In the No. 5 flight, Vo was unended by Brian Balico, 6-0, 6-2.

When the match was stopped, Casamassima was leading Kasinow thanks to a 6-4 first set victory.

Philadelphia heads to West Chester for a non-conference tilt on Thursday, Oct. 3.