CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa- The Western Illinois men's tennis team picked up its first two wins of the season, defeating Coe College and Creighton over the weekend.

"This was a challenging weekend for us," said Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. "Creighton and Coe were both tough match-ups and they fought us tooth and nail. I'm proud of our guys for keeping their heads up and fighting through some adversity to pick up these wins. Although I don't really think we played our best tennis, especially in doubles, it was good experience for us to have to battle back and pick up some three set wins."

The Leathernecks (2-1) began the weekend with a 4-3 victory over Coe College, Saturday, February 9.

Western dropped the doubles point against the Kohawks, losing at the No.2 and No. 3 doubles positions. The lone doubles team to win against Coe was the No. 1 doubles team of juniors Zach Frisch and Neil Lesinski, defeating San Zerbib and Elliot Rausa, 8-3.

"In doubles, we have some work to do," stated Hunt. "We need to get better at what we want to do or find some new doubles combinations that will work better. Coe really out coached and out performed us in doubles. I was very impressed with their play.

It took four singles victories in order for the Leathernecks to pull out the narrow 4-3 victory against the host team. Frisch and Lesinski won at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. Western also got singles wins from freshman Francisco Ortiz and junior Sean Ragee-Nelson. Ortiz and Nelson both battled back after each dropping the opening sets. Ortiz fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the decisive set.

"I'm very pleased for Francisco," added Hunt. "He really pulled out that Coe match."

Western completed the weekend sweep by defeating Creighton, Sunday, February 10, by a score of 5-2.

"Creighton has a bunch of scrappy players that didn't give us anything," Hunt said. "They made us earn every single point."

The Leathernecks received singles victories from Frisch, Boström, Ortiz, and Ragee-Nelson. Western won the doubles point against the Blue Jays with wins from the teams of Frisch and Lesinksi and Ragee-Nelson and junior Andy Jones.

The Leathernecks return to action Saturday, February 23, with a 1:30 p.m. match at Illinois State.

Western Illinois 4, Coe College 3
Doubles
1. Neil Lesinski/Zach Frisch (WIU) def. Sam Zerbib/Elliot Rausa (COEM) 8-3
2. Tom Jennings/Scott Stegeman (COEM) def. Martin Boström/Jose Francisco Ortiz (WIU) 9-7
3. Joey Lankelma/Greg Janssen (COEM) def. Sean Ragee-Nelson/Andy Jones (WIU) 8-1

Singles
1. Zach Frisch (WIU) def. Joey Lankelma (COEM) 7-5, 6-2
2. Neil Lesinski (WIU) def. Sam Zerbib (COEM) 6-4, 7-6
3. Jose Francisco Ortiz (WIU) def. Greg Janssen (COEM) 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
4. Sean Ragee-Nelson (WIU) def. Tom Jennings (COEM) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Elliot Rausa (COEM) def. Andy Jones (WIU) 7-6, 4-6, 11-9
6. Scott Stegeman (COEM) def. Michael Schild (WIU) 6-3, 6-1

Western Illinois 5, Creighton 2
Doubles
Zach Frisch/Neil Lesinski (WIU) def. Nikita Dudar/Joe Eckert (CU) 8-4
Jose Guerra/Brian Ward (CU) def. Martin Boström/Francisco Ortiz (WIU) 9-8 (7-4)
Sean Ragee-Nelson/Andy Jones (WIU) def. James McAvoy/Mike Elson (CU) 9-7

Singles
Zach Frisch (WIU) def. Nikita Dudar (CU) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-0
Martin Boström def. Jose Guerra (CU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Joe Eckert (CU) def. Neil Lesinski (WIU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
Francisco Ortiz (WIU) def. Brian Ward (CU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
Sean Ragee-Nelson (WIU) def. James McAvoy 6-4, 6-1
Bryan Lube (CU) def. Andy Jones (WIU) 7-5, 6-7 (7-4), 1-0 (10-7)