UIC lost their second straight match in a Horizon League road battle at Youngstown State Sunday morning.  After losing the doubles point, the Flames (5-8, 0-3 HL) battled back to tie the match 2-all by winning two of the first three singles matches.  But the Penguins (13-6, 1-1 HL) got straight set victories in the final three singles contests to take a 5-2 team win at Boardman Tennis Center.

As in their match at Cleveland State Saturday, the Flames could not get much traction in the doubles competition.  Marcelo Dib and Carl Hedstrom lost a 6-2 decision at #1, and Christian San Andres and Kailash Panchapakesan went down 6-4 at #3 to give Youngstown State the doubles point and the early lead.

The Penguins increased their lead to 2-0 on the #4 singles court, where Thomas Rodrigues took down Johan Hedstrom, 6-1, 6-2.  But UIC would find success in the next two matches to finish.  Niko Wasilewicz got back in the win column at #2 with a straight sets win over Matthew Kritzinger, 6-1, 6-4.  Christian San Andres won his fourth straight match after being pushed to the edge by Luke Purser.  In a 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 thriller on the #5 court, San Andres claimed his team leading eighth win of the season and evened the match at two points apiece.

The Flames could not answer Youngstown State's firepower down the rest of the lineup.  Danylo Veremeichuk ousted Marcelo Dib, 6-4, 6-3, on the #3 court, and Carl Hedstrom tested Mitch Maroscher at #1 but fell 6-4, 7-5 and the Penguins clinched the victory.  On the #6 court, Panchapakesan fell below .500 with a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Gabriel Tolesani.

"Tough losses in doubles forced us to battle uphill all weekend," coach Hans Neufeld said.  "Christian San Andres went undefeated with two three-set victories.  It was great to see him make adjustments after losing the first set in both matches."

The Flames will have a weekend off before returning to action with another Horizon League road trip.  They will travel to Wright State and Northern Kentucky the weekend of April 8.