MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois women's tennis team won its second straight match and the men's team picked up its fourth win of the season as both teams swept Monmouth, 7-0, at the varsity courts next to Brophy Hall.
"I appreciate Coach Frantz and Coach Braun coming down and playing us," said Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. "They do a good job at Monmouth and definitely have some good competitors on those teams."
The Leathernecks (4-13) kicked off the match by sweeping all three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. Sophomore Francisco Ortiz and freshman Mandela Shepard didn't allow a game at No. 1 doubles as they defeated the Fighting Scots' team of Kyle Korb and Eric Brandhorst, 8-0. At No. 2 doubles, freshman Rodrigo Azevedo and Michael Schild defeated Monmouth's team of Sam Graf and Tyler Lampe, 8-3. Junior James McGuire and freshman James Capalbo completed the sweep in doubles by beating Ben Morrow and Chris Utterback, 8-5, at No. 3.
In singles play, Ortiz continued his stellar play by only allowing two games at the No. 1 singles position, downing Korb, 6-1, 6-1. McGuire also only gave up two games at No. 5 singles, beating Tyler Lampe, 6-2, 6-0. Shepard nearly matched that output, defeating Brandhorst at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-2. Other winners for Western were Azevedo (No. 2, 7-5, 6-1), Capalbo (No. 4, 6-3, 7-5) and Schild (No. 6, 6-3, 6-2).
"We played well today, considering the weather conditions and the number of matches the men have played recently," Hunt said. "I was happy with Cisco's play, especially and Cisco and Mandela at #1 doubles."
The Westerwinds (5-7) also swept all three doubles matches to win the doubles point from Monmouth, only allowing two games through all three doubles matches. Senior Kim Lennartsson and sophomore Kate Kennedy took every game from Maddy Ethington and Julie Battcher at No. 3 doubles, winning 8-0. The teams of junior Amanda Griffin and senior Zi Wang and juniors Yana Meinert and Stephanie Baumer each won 8-1 at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively.
Singles action saw three different Westerwinds sweep matches, 6-0, 6-0. Baumer (No. 3), Kennedy (No. 5) and junior Courtney Brooks (No. 6) all won their matches without giving up a single game. Meinert nearly joined that trio, defeating Brittany Donnelly, 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 4 singles position. Other winners for the Westerwinds were Griffin (No. 1, 6-4, 6-2) and Wang (No. 2, 6-2, 6-0).
"I thought we showed pretty good intensity on both sides," stated Hunt. "Sometimes, it is tougher to do that when you are the favored or stronger team, but I was happy with how we took care of business today."
The Leathernecks host five matches over two days, April 4-5, with St. Ambrose, Chicago State, Grand Valley State, Southwest Baptist and Lewis all visit Macomb. The Westerwinds head to their first Summit League cluster of the season as they travel to Kansas City, Mo., to play four Summit League foes.
Leathernecks 7, Monmouth 0
Singles
1. Francisco Ortiz (WIU) def. Kyle Korb 6-1, 6-1
2. Rodrigo Ortiz (WIU) def. Sam Graf 7-5, 6-1
3. Mandela Shepard (WIU) def. Eric Brandhorst 6-1, 6-2
4. Jim Capalbo (WIU) def. Chris Utterback 6-3, 7-5
5. James McGuire (WIU) def. Tyler Lampe 6-2, 6-0
6. Michael Schild (WIU) def. Brian Miller 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
1. Ortiz/Shepard (WIU) def. Korb/Brandhorst 8-0
2. Azevedo/Schild (WIU) def. Graf/Lampe 8-3
3. McGuire/Capalbo (WIU) def. Ben Morrow/Utterback 8-5
Westerwinds 7, Monmouth 0
Singles
1. Amanda Griffin (WIU) def. Cassie Frantz 6-4, 6-2
2. Zi Wang (WIU) def. Amy Unzicker 6-2, 6-0
3. Stephanie Baumer (WIU) def. Kim Wegner 6-0, 6-0
4. Yana Meinert (WIU) def. Brittany Donnelly 6-1, 6-0
5. Kate Kennedy (WIU) def. Maddy Ethington 6-0, 6-0
6. Courtney Brooks (WIU) def. Rachel Bognar 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Griffin/Wang (WIU) def. Frantz/Donnelly 8-1
2. Meinert/Baumer (WIU) def. Unzicker/Wegner 8-1
3. Lennartsson/Kennedy (WIU) def. Ethington/Julie Battcher 8-0
