CHICAGO- The UIC men's tennis team (9-8, 1-2 HL) dropped a 6-1 decision Friday at Valparaiso (17-5, 3-0 HL) inside the Valpo Tennis Complex.

"Valpo was the better team today," said UIC head coach Hans Neufeld. "Thee breaks went their way and they took advantage of them. Cole played his game plan to perfection in singles."

The Crusaders took the first point after sweeping doubles, respectively. Carl Hedstrom and Nate Campanile fell at the No. 2 position, 6-3, while Max Cederkall and Marcelo Dib were defeated by the same score at No. 3.

Christopher Cole and Mitch Granger fought hard at No. 1 against opponents Jeffery Schorsch and Charlie Emhardt, but the match went unfished.

In singles competition, Cole claimed the Flames' lone win of the day and his ninth of the dual season when he took down Schorsch, 6-2, 7-5 at No. 2. Hedstrom and Dib dropped their matches, 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions, respectively.

UIC returns to action Saturday (April 16) when they travel to Detroit for a conference match-up. The Flames will compete against the Titans inside the Franklin Athletic Club at 5 p.m. CST.