DES MOINES, Iowa - The Western Illinois men's tennis team (2-6) dropped its first match of the weekend to Marquette by a 7-0 score Saturday (March 5) at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

Senior Jeff Cote and sophomore Patrick Hammers dropped a tight contest at No. 1 doubles, 8-6, while Cote turned in Western's most competitive singles match with a 6-3, 6-4 loss the No. 1 slot. Hammers, playing at the No. 2 position, fell 6-2, 6-1 in singles action.

In other doubles action, senior Alejandro Buceta and junior Mandela Shepard lost 8-3 at No. 2 while junior Jim Capalbo and freshman Ben Yue fell by an identical score at the No. 3 position. In singles play, Shepard fell 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 4 slot and Buceta dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision at the No. 3 position.

Capalbo, playing at No. 5 for the second time in 2011, dropped a 6-2, 6-3 decision and Yue fell 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 in his second singles match of the season.

The Leathernecks conclude weekend play in Des Moines, Iowa tomorrow (March 6) with a dual match against Drake. The contest is set to begin at 3 p.m. inside the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

Marquette 7, Western Illinois 0
March 5, 2011 at Des Moines, Iowa (Roger Knapp Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Jose Carlos Gutierrez Crowley (MU) def. Jeff Cote (WIU) - 6-3, 6-4 
2. Dan Mamalat (MU) def. Patrick Hammers (WIU) - 6-2, 6-1
3. Jose Manuel Munoz (MU) def. Alejandro Buceta (WIU) - 6-2, 6-2
4. Logon Collins (MU) def. Mandela Shepard (WIU) - 6-2, 6-4
5. Otavio Perim (MU) def. Jim Capalbo (WIU) - 6-2, 6-3
6. Drake Kakar (MU) def. Ben Yue (WIU) - 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Schwerin/Munoz (MU) def. Cote/Hammers (WIU) - 8-6
2. Troude/Perim (MU) def. Shepard/Buceta (WIU) - 8-3
3. Collins/Kakar (MU) def. Yue/Capalbo (WIU) - 8-3