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thevalley
Kasper Parlklo
4
Winner Illinois State ILS (10-3)
3
UIC UIC (1-9)
Winner
Illinois State ILS
(10-3)
4
Final
3
UIC UIC
(1-9)

Match Recap: Men's Tennis |

Flames Come Up Just Short Against Illinois State

Final Set Decisive in 4-3 Loss

The Flames turned in an excellent effort from beginning to end Saturday night, but in the end fell just short of Illinois State, 4-3.  The match was not decided until the third and final set of the last singles match to wrap up.  Niko Wasilewicz, who returned to the lineup after missing the last match, and Kailash Panchapakesan each won their singles match.  The Flames swept the doubles point as well.

"It was a great team effort tonight.  That was the best doubles we played this year," head coach Hans Neufeld said.  "We carried that energy into singles and competed very well against a tough team."

The Redbirds entered play on a hot streak, having won their last four matches by a combined score of 24-4, including a 7-0 win over Horizon League foe Green Bay.  Playing just 48 hours after their last match, the Flames pushed Illinois State to the brink and scored the most points against them in nearly a full month.

Doubles Results
  • Panchapakesan and Anthony Nguyen got things started on the right foot for UIC with a 6-2 win in their #3 doubles set.  It was the first win of the season for the pair.
  • Johan Hedstrom and Kasper Parlklo had to go to a tiebreaker, but pulled through to clinch the doubles point, 7-6 (4).
  • Wasilewicz and William Wale's #1 matchup was halted at 6-all once the Flames won the point.
Singles Results
  • The Redbirds pulled even in the match after the first singles match concluded.  Hedstrom went down, 6-3, 6-2, at #1.
  • Wasilewicz put the Flames back on top with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win at #2.  After playing nearly the whole season at #1, he returned in the second flight and earned his first win of the campaign.
  • Illinois State was able to pull even once again.  Nguyen was a 6-2, 6-4 victim on the #5 court.
  • The back and forth affair continued as the #4 match wrapped up.  Panchapakesan, playing in his fourth different flight in as many matches, earned his fourth win of the season, 7-6, 6-3.
  • The visitors staved off defeat by winning the #6 contest over Pelle Strandberg, 7-6 (6), 6-4.
  • The match came down to the #3 clash involving Parlklo.  The Flames' junior bounced back to win the second set, but could not pull through in the third, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
Up Next
  • Though the Flames' season long homestand is over, they will not have to travel far for their next match.
  • The team will make a short journey north to Evanston to play Northwestern next Sunday at 6 pm.
  • It will be a rematch of the contest on February 17, which the Wildcats won 4-0.
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