UIC finished its weekend trip to Omaha with a match against the Omaha Mavericks. A shuffled doubles lineup was competitive but could not win the doubles point, and from then the hosts went on to take a 7-0 win.
"We had good energy and competed well against a tough team,"
Hans Neufeld said. Omaha defeated #2 Drake in the Summit League semifinals last year, and has now won four in a row including over Youngstown State, Marquette, and Chicago State. "We need to get healthy," the coach continued, noting that
Luiz Dos Santos and
Francesco Tacconi were unable to make the trip, and
Ammar Wazir was scratched from the singles lineup, forcing four players to move up a slot.
Doubles Results
- Kevin Kruzel and Wazir, a mainstay at #2 so far this season, were moved up to the #1 flight Saturday. They dropped a 6-2 set in their debut atop the lineup.
- Gustavo Schwebel and Daan Bank were in their #3 set until the end, falling 6-4.
- Pelle Strandberg and Artem Iermolov paired together for the first time, were in a tight set at 4-5 on the #2 court when play was halted.
Singles Results
- Anthony Nguyen played in the #3 flight, where he lost 6-1, 6-3.
- Theo Duclos, who like Nguyen was moved up a flight from the original lineup, lost 6-0, 6-2 at #4.
- Schwebel fell in a 6-2, 6-1 battle at #2.
- Iermolov put up a fight in the first set before taking a 7-5, 6-2 loss on the #5 court.
- Strandberg was unable to force a third set in a tiebreaker, falling 6-2, 7-6 (2) at #1.
- Bank did rally to force a third set, which went Omaha's way in a 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 final at #6.
Up Next
- The trip gets shorter, but the opposition remains intense in UIC's next match.
- The Flames will travel to South Bend, Ind. to take on Notre Dame next Sunday.
