April 17, 2002

Chicago, Ill. - As the temperature has risen, so has the intensity of the University of Illinois at Chicago men's tennis team.

That higher intensity level transpired into a Flames win over Valparaiso on Tuesday, 5-2 in warm, windy conditions.

The victory was the Flames' fourth in their last five outings and gives them momentum with two big Horizon League matches remaining this week.

The second and third doubles teams got the Flames off to a great start to give the home team an early 1-0 edge heading into singles play.

Wade Clark and Amol Desai took care of Valpo's Vrabez and Neeman, 9-7, while Will Karydakis and Omar Husain won the No.3 match, 8-5.

In singles play, Nick Bodmer won the No.1 match, 7-5, 6-1 over Nick Vuro, while Amol Desai, Omar Husain and Neal Ahluwalia won the four, five and six matches.

Even in the matches UIC lost, it was a battle, as Ken Howrey and Wade Clark both dropped their matches in tight, three set affairs.

The Flames now host UW-Green Bay at 3:00 PM on Wednesday before welcoming Wright State on Friday for a 5: 00 PM match in the regular season finale.