LAS VEGAS-The University of Arkansas men's tennis team opened the Larry Easley Invitational with a strong doubles victory on Friday afternoon at the Fertitta Tennis Complex. 

The duo of junior Manfred Jeske and sophomore Jovan Parlic took down Northern Arizona's Laleli and Levinson 8-1. Jeske and Parlic will play Oklahoma State's Biktyakov and Del Nunzio in the quarterfinals tomorrow at 11 a.m.
 
In singles play, Parlic defeated Northern Arizona's Josh Levinson 6-2, 6-0 before falling in a heartbreaking three-set match against UNLV's Johannes Markel 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2).
 
The other two Razorbacks dropped tough three-set matches on Friday afternoon. Senior Gregoire Lehmann fell to Seminole State College's Tendai Tapfuma 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, while Jeske dropped his match to Arizona's Kieren Thomson 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

"All three guys came in here and developed their play today," head coach Robert Cox said. "I am very proud of the way they held themselves on the court today."
 
Arkansas begins play with tomorrow with doubles at 11 a.m. followed by singles play. For a full recap and stats visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Larry UNLV Invite Day 1
Singles:
Flight 1: 
          Tendai Tapfuma (SSC) def. Gregoire Lehmann (ARK) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
          Kieren Thompson (AZ) def. Manfred Jeske (ARK) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Flight 2: 
          Jovan Parlic (ARK) def. Josh Levinson (NAU) 6-2, 6-0
          Johannes Markel (UNLV) def. Jovan Parlic (ARK) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2)
Doubles:
          Jeske/Parlic (ARK) def. Laleli/Levinson (NAU) 8-1