UIC lost a heartbreaker to Eastern Illinois Sunday afternoon, dropping the home opener 4-3.
The tightly contested match hinged on a break in the final doubles set and a tiebreaker in the last singles match on the court. The Flames were in position to claim their first win of the year until the visitors won third sets in each of the last two singles matches to come from behind.
"I think we need to play with more energy from the start – it hurt us in doubles. Errors need to be reduced across the board, and we need to play more high percentage tennis,"
Hans Neufeld said.
Two doubles teams and two singles players picked up their first wins of the dual season.
Doubles Results
Singles Results
- It was another fast start for the Flames when Parlklo closed out a 6-1, 7-5 win at #2. It was Parlklo's first singles win of the season.
- EIU got the point back with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Hedstrom at #1.
- Strandberg played very efficient tennis and moved to 3-1 on the season with a 6-1, 6-0 win on the #5 court. Dos Santos won via retirement at #6, his first as a Flame, moving the team to within a point of victory.
- Anthony Nguyen seemed to have momentum after the second set, but he could not maintain it in a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 loss at #4.
- The decisive #3 flight went to a third set tiebreaker to determine a winner. Wasilewicz fell behind early and never caught up, falling 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (1) and the Panthers claimed the win.
Up Next
- The homestand will continue on Saturday.
- Northern Illinois will visit XS Tennis for an 11 am match.
