The Howard Payne University men's tennis team captured its first win of the season Saturday afternoon, edging the University of Dallas 4-3 in a tightly contested road match on February 21, 2026.

The Yellow Jackets built early momentum in doubles play. After dropping the No. 1 match 4-6, the duo of Luke Parker Hoel and Eli Hall responded with a strong 6-4 victory at No. 2. Riley Harker and Luke Flemming sealed the doubles point in dominant fashion at No. 3, blanking their opponents 6-0 to give Howard Payne a 1-0 team lead.

Singles action delivered drama across the lineup.

At No. 1, Gabriel Keeney-McCollough battled back after dropping the first set 1-6. He answered with a tiebreak win in the second set, 7-6 (7-2), before taking control of the match tiebreak 10-6 to secure a pivotal point. Luke Flemming added another clutch performance at No. 4, grinding through a first-set marathon tiebreak 7-6 (11-9), falling in the second set, then regrouping to win the match tiebreak 10-8.

Parker Hoel provided a steady presence at No. 6, delivering one of the day's most decisive wins with a 6-1, 6-0 sweep.

With three singles victories complementing the doubles point, Howard Payne clinched the narrow 4-3 decision and earned its first mark in the win column this spring. The hard-fought road victory showcased resilience in pressure moments and a lineup capable of closing tight matches when it matters most.