BROWNWOOD, Texas - The Howard Payne University men's tennis team dropped its American Southwest Conference opener 8-1 to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Friday afternoon at the Nabers Tennis Center.

After the Yellow Jackets dropped the number one doubles point 8-1, the HPU duo of Rodolfo Perez and Tevin Stevens claimed the number two doubles point 9-7. 

Dominic Denardo played the toughest in singles play for the Jackets falling 6-4, 6-4 in number one singles play. HPU dropped all the other singles points in straight sets.

Playing a man down, Howard Payne would drop the number three doubles and the number six singles points by forfeit.

The Yellow Jackets will play next on Saturday at home versus Concordia Texas at 10:00 am.