The 2024 Oxford Blackhawks Tennis team, coached by Lance Thorne. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

OXFORD – It was a beautiful day for the 2024 Oxford tennis season opener as the Blackhawks took on a tough Sidney team. Oxford fell 5-0, but battled hard.

For singles, Sam Hendricks, Jerry Hornbeck, and Paige Rickard received the nod for the top three. Hendricks dropped two sets to Will Dosick by scores of 6-2. Hornbeck fell to Gavin Granger 6-3 and 6-2 as Rickard was defeated by Kyle Smith 6-1 and 6-0.

Jocie Finch and Taegan Manwarren gave Chloe Van Der Sommen and Erin Neubert a tough match for the first doubles. Finch/Manwarren took the first set 7-5, but dropped the next 7-5 and Van Der Sommen/Neubert stood their ground to break up the tie 6-4 in the third and final set.

Nora Thorne and Addison Hinman took on Matthew Greene and Anthony Spinu for the second doubles. Thorne/Hinman fell 6-3 and 7-5 to round out the day.

Oxford (0-1) hosts Deposit-Hancock on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.