FORT WAYNE, Ind.- The Western Illinois men's tennis team qualified for its fourth Summit League championship in as many years after defeating IUPUI, 4-0, at the Swinney Park Tennis Courts.
"Today was how this team can play when everyone is focused on doing their job," said Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. "This was probably our best match of the season."
Starting with singles play for the second straight day, the highlight for the Leathernecks (8-15, 3-1 Summit League) was the play of junior James McGuire at the No. 6 singles position. The Pittsford, N.Y., native dominated the Jaguars' Jesus Diaz, not allowing him a game in the 6-0, 6-0 win.
Senior Sean Ragee-Nelson won his seventh singles match in a row after defeating Taylor Tunis of IUPUI in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 4 singles. Fellow senior Zach Frisch won his fourth straight singles match by defeating Gregory Sosa, 6-3, 6-1, at the top singles spot. The final win came from freshman Mandela Shepard at the No. 5 singles position over Jorge Yunes, 6-2, 6-3.
"I´m really proud of how James stepped into the lineup and not only won, but dominated his opponent," Hunt stated. "Diaz is a tough player and James just took him out of his game. Cisco had a nice comeback in his match before it was postponed. And the seniors have really been on a tear since that first conference weekend."
"I think we have seen this weekend that when we are focused and playing up to our abilities, we can beat any team in this league, including Oral Roberts and UMKC. But when we don´t play that way, we struggle."
The Leathernecks finish play its regular season finale and finish the Summit League cluster with a 9 a.m. match against South Dakota State Saturday, April 11, at the Swinney Park Tennis Courts.
Western Illinois 4, IUPUI 0
Singles
1. Zach Frisch (WIU) d. Gregory Sosa (IUPUI) 6-3, 6-1
2. Francisco Ortiz (WIU) d. Daniel Klingenberg (IUPUI) 7-6 (8-3) SUSP.
3. Bren Vasalakis (IUPUI) vs. Nei Lesinski (WIU) 6-4 3-1 SUSP.
4. Sean Ragee-Nelson (WIU) d. Taylor Tunis (IUPUI) 6-4, 6-3
5. Mandela Shepard (WIU) d. Jorge Yunes (IUPUI) 6-2, 6-3
6. James McGuire (WIU) d. Jesus Diaz (IUPUI) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
Did not play.
