Feb. 26, 2006

Hinsdale, Ill.- Sparked by a valiant doubles win by Eric Fey and Adriano Liccardo to win the doubles point, the UIC men's tennis team went on to take five of six singles matches in a dominating win over Valparaiso, 6-1, at the Hinsdale Racquet Club on Saturday night.

With an early point on the line after UIC and Valparaiso split the first two doubles matches, Fey and Liccardo persevered and eventually took the tiebreaker in a tightly-contested contest against Joe Venegas and Alex Lau in an 8-7(4) victory.

Fey and Liccardo shined on the singles side as well, as Fey downed Lau 6-2, 6-3 at the fifth spot while Liccardo picked up a dominating 6-1, 6-1 No. 2 singles win over Venegas.

Ivan Kovalev was his usual self, winning at the top singles spot with a 6-4, 7-6(3) win.

Andy Lockhart won his No. 4 match with Dave Bukowski in a back-and-forth 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 affair, while Danai Samuriwo overcame severe cramping to pick up an inspiring 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 win over Dan Brunette.

"Overall a good effort," said UIC Head Coach Hans Neufeld. "Ivan was solid as usual. Adriano came to play. Fey was phenomenal.

"That doubles point was huge."

UIC (3-4) returns to action next Saturday versus Drake at the Hinsdale Racquet Club at 7:00 p.m.

UIC 6, Valparaiso 1SINGLES1. Ivan Kovalev (UIC) def. Nic Kooyers (VU) 6-4, 7-6(2)2. Adriano Liccardo (UIC) def. Joe Venegas (VU) 6-1, 6-13. Mike Wagner (VU) def. Paul Glendenning (UIC) 7-6(2), 6-14. Andy Lockhart (UIC) def. Dave Bukowski (VU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-15. Eric Fey (UIC) def. Alex Lau (VU) 6-2, 6-36. Danai Samuriwo (UIC) def. Dan Brunette (VU) 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
DOUBLES1. Kovalev/Lockhart (UIC) def. Wagner/Bukowski (VU) 8-22. Kooyers/Blain Kelder (VU) def. Glendenning/Samuriwo (UIC) 8-63. Fey/Liccardo (UIC) def. Venegas/Lau (VU) 8-7(4)