The Denison men's tennis team blanked Oberin College 5-0 in the opening round of the 2010 North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Granville.  In addition to moving the Big Red into the semifinals, the victory marked the 600th program win since the 1954 season.

The No. 1 doubles team of Matt McErlean (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and Nate Hobrath (Strongsville, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) edged Ben Godlove and Ben Turchin 8-6.  Both athletes have combined for 20 doubles wins, which moves them into a tie for first with former DU standouts Kevin Newman and Randy Lofgren on the school's all-time single-season list. Jared Connolly (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) and Tim Martin (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) knocked off Pedar Davis and Eliot Heaton, 8-2, at second doubles, while junior Evan Verbofsky (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel Area) and senior Adam Seeley (West Hartford, Conn./William H. Hall) completed the sweep with an 8-6 decision over Joe Leffler and Sam Towne.

In singles competition, sophomore Tom Cawood (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing), the central region's 13th-ranked player, defeated Godlove in straight sets (6-2, 6-1) at No. 1 singles, while Verbofsky posted a shutout victory over Heaton at fourth singles.  Verbofsky's win gives him 40 for his career, and moves him into a four-way tie for eighth in career singles victories.

DU improves to 17-3 overall, while the Yeomen fall to 3-21.  Denison returns to the court on Sunday when they take on Allegheny in the semifinals of the NCAC Championships.  Match time is slated to begin at 11 a.m.