April 29, 2007
Indianapolis, Ind.- The UIC men's tennis team gutted through injuries, but it was not enough as the Flames were upended in the Horizon League Championship match by Butler, 4-0, on Sunday.
UIC concludes the campaign at 11-9 overall. While the result did not satisfy head coach Hans Neufeld and his team, it was another unprecedented feat for the program as it marked the first time in school history that the UIC men's tennis turned in three consecutive runner-up conference finishes.
A hard-fought doubles match at the top spot was won by Butler to help the Bulldogs take a 1-0 lead. That would prove vital for the Bulldogs, as UIC's Eric Fey and Andy Lockhart were en route to victories in their respective singles matches and would have brought the dual match decision down to the No. 6 spot.
The Flames had to make a lineup change after Sam Sweeney was unable to play in singles with a knee injury suffered on Saturday.
"The first two matches did us in, and losing the doubles point put really gave Butler a big advantage," said Neufeld. "If we had that doubles point, it could have been a different match. Our guys battled, but there just wasn't enough left in the tank.
"It was good experience for the freshmen," Neufeld said of his team's three rookies. "I think the injuries put a little more pressure on the guys to play a great match instead of letting it develop.
"It was a good tournament. They fought hard to get to the finals and it will serve as good experience for next year."
Butler 4, UIC 0
SINGLES
1. James Low (BU) def. Sebastian Lystad (UIC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Eric Breitenbach (BU) def. Bastian Harbo (UIC) 6-4, 6-1
3. Evan West (BU) def. Adriano Liccardo (UIC) 6-2, 6-1
4. Ben Raynauld (BU) vs. Eric Fey (UIC) DNF (Fey led 7-6, 4-1)
5. Sandy Berry (BU) vs. Andy Lockhart (UIC) DNF (Lockhart led 6-4, 3-3)
6. Scott Newmark (BU) vs. Sean Kreymborg (UIC) DNF
DOUBLES
1. Low/Raynauld (BU) def. Lystad/Lockhart(UIC) 8-6
2. Breitenbach/Berry (BU) vs. Liccardo/Harbo (UIC) DNF
3. West/Newmark (BU) def. Sweeney/Fey(UIC) 8-2
