Winning is becoming second nature for the men?s tennis team, as itcruised through yet another match.

This time, the Hornets were able to outplay Saint Mary?s 5-2 Saturdayafternoon, pushing their winning streak to seven games and cruising to a9-1 record.

The Hornets returned to action after having a week off. Their lastmatch was Sunday in Hawaii, and head coach Chris Evers thought the matchwas well played.

“We played good today,” Evers said. “You never know after a week off.”

The team was winners of four of the six singles matches. The four winscame in straight set victories for the Hornets.

Junior Sherif Zaher, playing in the number one singles position defeatedhis opponent 6-2, 6-4. Zaher?s record in singles play now stands at8-2. Evers believes playing in the number one position is difficult,because you will always play the best competition.

“Sherif is playing real well,” Evers said. “Playing in the number oneposition is tough, and he is nails.”

In the number three match, senior Chris Smith won 6-2, 6-4. While in thenumber five and six matches, seniors Joseph Gilbert and Kevin Vieirawere able to defeat their opponents. Gilbert won 6-1, 6-1, while Vieirafinished his opponent off with a score of 6-2, 6-2.

Evers believes the team was ready and came to play.

“Everyone played real solid,” he said. “They came out and played realwell.”

The only losses for the Hornets came in the number two and four matches.Junior Fabio Jesus retired from his match because of a recurring injury.Sophomore Sylvain Iff lost 5-7, 7-6, 4-6, the only match to go threesets.

In doubles play, the Hornets were able to win all three doubles matchesand gain the doubles point.

Zaher teamed up with Gilbert to win 8-3, while Jesus and Smith won 8-4.In the number three doubles match, Iff and Vieira matched up to win 8-5.

Evers suggested that the doubles teams are playing very well, and thematch-ups are working out.

“We swept the doubles today. The doubles teams are gelling really niceright now,” he saidThe next match for the Hornets will be Sunday, when they host Pacific atRio Del Oro. Evers believes this will be a tough match for the Hornets.

“Pacific is real good,” Evers said. “We need to be at full speed to beatthem.”