FORT WAYNE, Ind.- After nearly losing the doubles point, the Western Illinois men's tennis team defeated IUPUI, 4-0, to earn its third straight trip to the conference tournament championship.
"We were a little rusty early on, but we came on in the singles," stated Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. "We're looking forward to tomorrow and playing for an NCAA bid."
After losing the No. 1 doubles match to the Jaguars (5-17), the No. 3 doubles team of senior Michael Tiu and junior Michael Schild defeated Blake Powers and Jesus Diaz, 8-4, at No. 3 doubles to even the doubles play at 1-1.
At the No. 2 doubles spot, senior Martin Boström and junior Sean Ragee-Nelson were down match point at 7-6 to E.J. Dechow and Jorge Yunes. The duo rallied to win the next three games to win the match, 9-7, and the doubles point for the Leathernecks (14-5). Boström and Ragee-Nelson improved their record to 11-0 on the season with the win.
Junior Andy Jones got things rolling for Western in singles play, defeating Powers, 6-3, 6-0, at the No. 6 singles position. Junior Zach Frisch won at No. 1 singles, beating Gabriel Garcia, 6-2, 6-0. Junior Neil Lesinski clinched the match for the Leathernecks, downing Diaz at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-1.
Western's 10th win in a row sets up a rematch of last year's championship against Oral Roberts tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Dr. Rudy and Rhonda Kachmann Tennis Center.
Western Illinois 4, IUPUI 0
Singles
1. Zach Frisch (WIU) def. Gabriel Garcia (IUPUI) 6-2, 6-0
2. Martin Boström (WIU) led Gregory Sosa (IUPUI) 6-2, 2-3 (DNF)
3. Neil Lesinski (WIU) def. Jesus Diaz (IUPUI) 6-0, 6-1
4. Francisco Ortiz (WIU) led EJ Dechow (IUPUI) 6-3, 2-1
5. Sean Ragee-Nelson (WIU) led Jorge Yunes (IUPUI) 6-3, 3-4
6. Andy Jones (WIU) def. Blake Powers (IUPUI) 6-3, 6-0
Doubles
1. Garcia/Sosa (IUPUI) def. Frisch/Lesinski (WIU) 8-5
2. Boström/Ragee-Nelson (WIU) def. Dechow/Jorge Yunes (IUPUI) 9-7
3. Michael Tiu/Michael Schild (WIU) def. Powers/Diaz (IUPUI) 8-4
