BLOOMINGTON, Ill.- Senior Zach Frisch won both his singles and doubles match but it wasn't enough as the Western Illinois men's tennis team fell to in-state rival Illinois State, 5-2, at the Evergreen Racquet Club.

"This was a tough loss," stated Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. The match was really set up for us to win, we just didn't get it done."

The Leathernecks (1-8) nearly opened up the match by stealing the doubles point from the Redbirds (2-4). Frisch teamed with junior James McGuire at No. 2 doubles to defeat Illinois State's Timon Reichelt and Michael Hobson, 8-5. Western nearly took the doubles point after seniors Sean Ragee-Nelson and Neil Lesinski battled Skip Span and Filip Miljevic to an 8-6 loss at No. 1 doubles.

In singles play, Frisch dropped the first set to Timon Reichelt at No. 1 singles, but rebounded to take the match the Redbirds' top singles player, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. Ragee-Nelson was the lone other Leatherneck to win his singles match, defeating Daniel Tobar in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.

"Zach (Frisch) was really impressive today," Hunt said. "He's starting to get hot which is something we'll need this season."

Western is off until a Friday, March 13, match against another in-state rival in Eastern Illinois. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Charleston, Ill.

Illinois State 5, Western Illinois 2

Singles
1. Frisch, Zach (WIU) def. Reichelt, Timon (ILS) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
2. Miljevic, Filip (ILS) def. Lesinski, Neil (WIU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Span, Skip (ILS) def. Ortiz, Francisco (WIU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Ragee-Nelson, Sean (WIU) def. Tobar, Daniel (ILS) 7-5, 6-3
5. Hobson, Michael (ILS) def. Shepard, Mandela (WIU) 6-0, 6-3
6. LeMoine, Micah (ILS) def. Azeredo, Rodrigo (WIU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

Doubles
1. Span/Miljevic (ILS) def. Lesinski/Ragee-Nelson (WIU) 8-6
2. McGuire, James/Frisch (WIU) def. Reichelt/Hobson (ILS) 8-5
3. Tobar/LeMoine (ILS) def. Shepard/Ortiz (WIU) 8-4