April 3, 2011

BOARDMAN, Ohio- The UIC men's won the doubles point over Youngstown State, and defeated the Penguins on Saturday night, 4-3.

"We gained a big boost with a quick start in the doubles play," said head coach Hans Neufeld. "Nate {Kirk} and Alex {Raa} played solid in their singles position. "Luiz {Gonzaga} had the team match clinching point and sealed it for us."

UIC (4-10, 2-1 Horizon League) won all three matches in the doubles positions, and won the decisive doubles point from Youngstown State going into singles play. Senior Gonzaga and sophomore Kamath won the first doubles match over YSU's Zeeshan Ismail and Rob Emig, 8-2. To clinch the doubles point for the Flames was senior Dave Robare and freshman Raa in a tight one over YSU's Tariq Ismail and Max Schmerin, 9-7.

The Flames won the top three singles matches to secure their second straight Horizon League win. Junior Nate Kirk secured the first singles win for the Flames at the No. 2 position, defeating YSU's Felipe Rosa in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. In the top spot, Raa took the match to YSU'T. Ismail in a convincing matter, 6-2, 6-2. Gonzaga defeated YSU's Max Schmerin at the No. 3 singles slot, 6-3, 6-4.

UIC will be back into Horizon League action tomorrow when they take on Cleveland State at the Malaga Tennis Center, beginning at 3 p.m.

UIC 4, YSU 3
Singles:
1. Alexander Raa (UIC) def. Tariq Ismail (YSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Nate Kirk (UIC) def. Felipe Rosa (YSU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Luiz Gonzaga (UIC) def. Max Schmerin (YSU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Zeeshan Ismail (YSU) def. James Li (UIC) 6-7, 6-3, 10-3
5. Rodrigo Campos (YSU) def. Alan Reifer (UIC) 4-6, 7-6, 10-4
6. Rob Emig (YSU) def. Camilo Giraldo (UIC) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles:
1. Robare/Raa (UIC) def. Ismail/ Schmerin (YSU), 9-7
2. Shepardson/Kirk (UIC) def. Rosa/ Campos (YSU), 8-3
3. Gonzaga/Kamath (UIC) def. Ismail/Emig (YSU), 8-2

Order of Finish
Singles: 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 5
Doubles: 3, 1, 2