Detroit Mercy defeated UIC, 7-0, in the Horizon League opener in Detroit Sunday evening.  Though the Titans got off to a fast start, the Flames rallied late, only to see several tiebreakers go Detroit Mercy's way and keep the visitors from scoring.

Doubles Results

• Johan Hedstrom and William Wale were reunited on the #2 court after a brief doubles shakeup in the last match.  The pair fell to the Titans, 6-1.
• Kailash Panchapakesan and Marco Nanni were unable to fare any better at #3, as Detroit Mercy clinched the doubles point, 6-2,
• The Flames' #1 team, Marcelo Dib and Niko Wasilewicz, were well on their way to a win, but were pulled off the court leading 5-1 after the conclusion of the #3 set.

Singles Results

• Alvaro de la Fuente remained in the #6 slot for the fourth straight match.  He dropped a 6-3, 6-0 decision.
• On the #3 court, Dib lost by a 6-1, 6-1 score.
• Detroit Mercy clinched the team win on the #5 court, where Panchapakesan fell 6-4, 6-0.
• The Flames started to turn things around in the final three matches.  In the #4 flight, Nanni rallied to force a third set before losing, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
• Hedstrom, playing at #2, was on the brink several times.  The first set went to a tiebreak, and later a third set tiebreaker went the distance, with Hedstrom coming up just short, 7-6, 4-6, 10-8.
• Wasilewicz was on the wrong end of tiebreakers in consecutive sets at #1, as he fell 7-6, 7-6.  "Marco, Johan, and Niko battled well in singles," head coach Hans Neufeld said of his lineup.  "Johan lost a third set super tiebreak.  Niko was the last match off in a tough battle, with both sets decided in tiebreaks."

Up Next

• The Flames will take a brief break from conference play on Tuesday.
• UIC will travel to Western Michigan for a 2:30 pm match.