All it took was some home cooking.

Playing at home for the first time in 2019, UIC picked up its first win of the season over Eastern Illinois.

"We had a great effort in the doubles," said head coach Hans Neufeld, after his team won the doubles point for the second time in three matches.  "We started strong in doubles and carried the momentum into singles."

The Flames won four of the six singles matches and topped the Panthers, 5-2, at XS Tennis in the first match of a split doubleheader.

The nightcap did not go as well for UIC.

At Northwestern, the Wildcats took control of the match with wins in two doubles sets and a straight sets shutout to lead off singles.  From there, they won the next two singles matches to take a 4-0 win.

"Kasper and Johan competed well in singles" against Northwestern, Neufeld said.  "We came out strong at the start of doubles but made too many unforced errors to close it out."

Doubles Results – Eastern Illinois

• Niko Wasilewicz and William Wale picked up their second win of the season with a 6-4 win at #1.
• Johan Hedstrom and Kasper Parlklo stayed hot in the #2 flight.  They improved to 3-1 on the season with a 6-4 win.
• Anthony Nguyen and Kailash Panchapakesan had their #3 set called off once the Flames secured the doubles point,

Singles Results – Eastern Illinois

• Parlklo got the Flames off to a hot start in singles play.  He dispatched of his opponent on the #3 court, 6-3, 6-3.  It was his first singles win as a Flame.
• Eastern Illinois closed the gap on the #2 court with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Hedstrom.
• The Panthers tied things up at two apiece after the #1 match went their way.  That was a 7-6, 6-4 decision over Wasilewicz.
• The critical, momentum-defining #6 match was next to finish.  Panchapakesan turned up the heat in the second set and won going away, 7-5, 6-0.  He lengthened his singles winning streak to three straight matches.
• Anthony Nguyen gave the Flames the team win with a 5-7, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 win at #5.
• Pelle Strandberg won his first collegiate match, and used a big comeback to make sure it was in straight sets.  His 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) win came after being down 2-6 in the tiebreaker.

Doubles Results – Northwestern

• Neufeld left his doubles and singles lineups unchanged from the day's first meet.  Nguyen and Panchapakesan were victims to a 6-2 decision.
• The score in Hedstrom and Parlklo's match was the same, giving Northwestern the early lead.
• Wale and Wasilewicz were pulled off the court once the Wildcats clinched the doubles point.

Singles Results – Northwestern

• Strandberg was unable to win a set, falling 6-0, 6-0 to make the team score 2-0 in favor of the home-standing Wildcats.
• Wasilewicz came back from a lopsided first set and made things interesting in the second, but was ultimately unable to extend the match in a 6-0, 6-4 final.
• Nguyen was the victim in the clinching match, a 6-1, 6-3 result for Northwestern.
• Once the Wildcats won their fourth team point, Hedstrom, Parlklo, and Panchapakesan terminated their matches.

Up Next

• The Flames will host Toledo next Saturday evening.
• The match will begin at 6pm at UIC's alternate indoor home, Hinsdale Racquet Club.
• UIC will get a rematch with Northwestern on March 10.