FORT WAYNE, IND. – Junior Stratton Smith (New Palestine, Ind.) and sophomore Isaac Collis (Alexandria, Ind.) each gathered four-games-or-more victories in a set to spotlight Manchester University's 2015-16 spring slate curtain raiser Friday, Feb. 26.

Smith pushed Alma College No. 1 singles' player Jared Guy to a 6-4 final in the first set, while Collis made the Fighting Scots' Noah Ackerman work to the wire in a 7-5 second set decision at No. 5. Smith and sophomore doubles partner Spencer Thomas (Yorktown, Ind.) gained four game wins at number one doubles as well despite the Black and Gold's 7-0 team defeat at Wildwood Racquet Club that dropped them to 0-3.

MU's women, dipping to 3-8, picked up victories from sophomore Katie Peden (North Manchester, Ind.) and the doubles pairing of Peden and junior Adriana Brown (Columbia City, Ind.) in a 6-2 loss to Alma. Peden's straight-set decision at number two was her third victory of the year, while she and Brown, winning at number two doubles, were paired up for the first time.

The Spartans' men's squad opens 2016 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action March 13, traveling to preseason favorite Rose-Hulman. Both teams are part of a double-dual at Adrian College of Michigan March 31 against the Bulldogs and Ohio Northern University.