PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - The Caldwell College men's tennis team dropped a dual to Pace University, 7-2 in the team's 2008 season opener Thursday night at the Saw Mill Tennis Center. The Cougars, who posted a 5-4 record last season, picked up wins at No. 2 doubles and No. 1 singles.

Junior Alex Ali (Lakewood, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) won his match at first singles over Garrett Boyd, 6-1, 6-2 in his first collegiate competition. Seniors Jan Marco Jiras (Lima, Peru) and Amir Zandieh (Tehran, Iran/Montville) combines at No. 2 doubles to defeat Boyd and Andrew Hagen, 8-4 for Caldwell's other point. Jiras narrowly lost a three-set match to Dan Klein at No. 3 singles, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2.

The Cougars return to the court on Mar. 19 with a dual at Bloomfield College, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Pace 7, Caldwell 2
Singles
1. Alex Ali (C) def. Garrett Boyd, 6-1, 6-2
2. Neil Mirchandani (P) def. Amir Zandieh, 6-3, 6-0
3. Dan Klein (P) def. Jan Marco Jiras, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
4. Jose Caceres (P) def. Thane McKenzie, 6-4, 7-6
5. Graves (P) def. Mike Ober, 7-5, 7-6
6. Andrew Hagen (P) def. Josh Getka, 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. Mirchandani/ Klein (P) def. Ali/Getka, 8-1
2. Jiras/Zandieh (C) def. Boyd/Hagen, 8-4

3. Caceres/Kevin Jones (P) def. Ober/Loughnane, 8-2