ST. LOUIS - The Coe College men's tennis team defeated Earlham, 5-2, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III tournament in St. Louis Friday.

The Kohawks (25-7) will face second-round Washington University in the second round Saturday at 9 a.m.

Riley Galbraith, Sean Stokstad, Alex Bernt and Michael Janssen won their singles matches for Coe. Stokstad and Zack Decker picked up a crucial point for the Kohawks at No. 3 doubles.

Noah Sprinkel, ranked 21st in the country, had a 6-4, 4-6, 4-3 lead at No. 1 singles for Coe, but the match was not finished after the Kohawks clinched the victory with Stokstad's triumph at No. 4 singles.

Earlham took a 2-1 lead in the doubles competition, but Coe won all four of the finished singles matches.

Coe 5, Earlham 2

Singles

1. Noah Sprinkel (Coe) vs. Anton Bartashevich, 6-4, 4-6, 4-3, unfinished

2. Riley Galbraith (Coe) def. Phillip Locklear, 7-5, 6-2

3. Ryan Hickman (Coe) vs. Hank Levin, 3-6, 6-4, 3-4, unfinished

4. Sean Stokstad (Coe) def. Jack Ventura-Cruess, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4

5. Alex Bernt (Coe) def. Andrey Gavrilov, 6-1, 6-2

6. Michael Janssen (Coe) deef. Matthew Foster, 6-1, 6-0

Doubles

1. Bartashevich/Ventura-Cruess (Earl) def. Sprinkel/Galbraith, 8-5

2. Locklear/Levin (Earl) def. Hickman/Janssen, 9-7

3. Stokstad/Zack Decker (Coe) def. Gavrilov/Foster, 8-3