CHICAGO – In the program's first conference match as an affiliate member of the Southland Conference, the UIC men's tennis team (6-10, 1-0 Southland) defeated league juggernaut Texas A&M – Corpus Christi 4-3 in thrilling fashion for one of the team's biggest wins in program history.
After winning the doubles point, the Flames and Islanders were neck and neck throughout the singles competition. Tied 3-3 in the team score with only the No. 5 singles left to finish, junior
Gustavo Schwebel was able to win his match in three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-2) to seal the historic victory for the Flames.
A perennial contender in the Southland Conference, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi has won 30 Southland Conference championships, made 14 NCAA tournament appearances and has four Top 40 ITA National Rankings in program history. The Islanders have won at least a share of the Southland regular season title the last two years and won the Southland Tennis Tournament in 2021. The Flames' victory over the Islanders is a major milestone for head coach Jovan Parlic, who's in his first year at the helm for UIC.
COMPETING IN CHICAGO
Friday's match was UIC's final home match for the season. The Flames finished with a 2-1 home record at the XS Tennis Village in 2022-23.
UP NEXT
The Flames are off until Mar. 21 when they travel to New Orleans for a league match against the Privateers. New Orleans is the reigning Southland Conference champion.
RESULTS
UIC 4, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi 3
Doubles - UIC wins the doubles point
- Miroslav Cvjetan / Jai Vallurupalli (UIC) def. Avery Zavala / Pascal Lorieul (AMCC) 6-3
- Aleksa Bucan / Ammar Wazir (UIC) def. Nathan Schwartz / Tomas Quesasda (AMCC) 6-4
- Artem Iermolov / Pelle Strandberg (UIC) vs. Lucas Schurdevin / Ulysse Bertrand (AMCC) 5-3, unfinished
Singles
- Avery Zavala (AMCC) def. Pelle Strandberg (UIC) 7-5, 6-2
- Aleksa Bucan (UIC) def. Pascal Lorieul (AMCC) 5-7, 7-5, 6-0
- Nathan Schwartz (AMCC) def. Miroslav Cvjetan 6-4, 6-2
- Matthieu Peres (AMCC) def. Jai Vallurupalli (UIC) 6-3, 6-1
- Gustavo Schwebel (UIC) def. Ulysse Bertrand (AMCC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
- Ammar Wazir (UIC) def. Tomas Quesada (AMCC) 7-5, 6-1
