PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University men's tennis team opened its 2015-16 season with a 5-3 loss to the University of the Sciences in a non-conference match Thursday afternoon on the Abraham Salaman Tennis Courts.

The Rams' (0-1) picked up their first point of the season when Juan Velosa and James Pollard earned a hard-fought 9-8 (8-6) victory over Tajay McLeod and Tanner Kerr in No. 3 doubles. Velosa and Pollard overcame a 6-5 deficit in the tiebreaker to claim the match.

In singles play, Pollard was a 6-3, 6-3 winner against Kerr in the No. 6 flight. Jacobo Atri claimed a tight No. 4 match with McLeod, 7-6, 6-4.

Philadelphia will compete in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association East Region Championship starting on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Legacy Youth Tennis Center.