Playing their first match in nearly three weeks, the UIC men's tennis team fell to Valparaiso 7-0 in the Horizon League opener. Valparaiso, the unanimous choice to repeat as conference champions, won every match in straight sets.
Charlie Emhardt and Chad Kissell started things off for the Crusaders with a 6-2 win over
Niko Wasilewicz and
Christian San Andres at #2 doubles, snapping a three match win streak for the duo.
William Wale and
Johan Hedstrom dropped their #3 match 6-0. The partners had won two straight entering action.
Carl Hedstrom and
Marcelo Dib's doubles set against Dave Bacalla and Jeffrey Schorsch went unfinished after Valpo clinched the doubles point.
"We made too many unforced errors to start the doubles," head coach
Hans Neufeld said. "We competed much better in the singles. Niko, Johan, Marcelo [Dib], and Christian all had chances while being up in the first set of singles." The four underclassmen each won three or four games in their respective first sets, but none could get a win against veteran Crusaders.
Carl Hedstrom started at #1 singles against Schorsch, the two time Horizon League Player of the Year. Schorsch showed why he has received those accolades with a 6-1, 6-1 win. Wale's match at #6 was next to finish, with the Flames' freshman going down 6-2, 6-0 to Garrett Gardner. The Crusaders clinched the match with their fourth straight point as San Andres fell to Brandon Ancona, 6-3, 6-3.
Wasilewicz drew Kissell at #2 singles and held his own against the regionally 12
th ranked player, ultimately succumbing by a 6-3, 6-3 score.
Johan Hedstrom stumbled in the first set against Kyle Dunn at #4, 6-4, before Dunn finished strong in the second set, 6-1. At #3, Dib faced off against another of Valpo's experienced seniors, Dave Bacalla, who pulled away late for a 6-4, 6-2 win to finish the competition.
The Flames have lost five straight matches to Valpo, who has now won eight straight league matches over the last three years. UIC will return to non-conference play with another tough road test against #13 Northwestern Sunday afternoon.
