GALESBURG, IL --- In the first match of the spring season, the men's and women's tennis teams took the court against Western Illinois and the women ended the day with a match against Upper Iowa. The men came out with a 6-1 win over Western Illinois while the women fell in a tough match 2-5 to the Division I foe. In the last match of the day, the women fell to Upper Iowa 1-8.
MEN VS WESTERN ILLINOISIn their opening match, the Prairie Stars jumped out in what head coach
Tom Rees called, "the best doubles we have ever played." Winning all three doubles matches, the Prairie Stars won 6-1, 6-0, 6-0.
Cole Buehnerkemper and
Logan Burgess Hayes played in the top spot while
Christian Timm and
Santiago Pedraza took the second match before
Grant Fitzsimmons and
Sam Clarke won the third match.
Following the domination in the doubles matches, Buehnerkemper fell in the top singles match 6-2, 6-4 but was picked up by his teammates who all won in straight sets. In the third slot, Clarke won 6-1, 6-1 while Timm won 6-0, 6-1.
WOMEN VS WESTERN ILLINOISThe UIS women began the day as
Jane Carter and
Sharon Danquah were bested 6-3 before
Jasmin Morgan and
Danielle Mendoza were also beat 6-3. Down 2-1 going into singles, UIS looked to make a comeback but Danquah was the only singles player able to pull out a victory. Winning a three set thriller, 6-0, 1-6, 10-8, it was the only match of the game that went three sets. Carter fell 6-4, 6-4 in a tough match playing as the top spot.
WOMEN VS UPPER IOWAIn the second match of the day, UIS fell in two of the three doubles matches but had no lack of excitement. Morgan and Mendoza fell 8-5 before Carter and Danquah picked up a 9-8 victory to avoid the sweep.
In singles, Carter withdrew to an injury while Danquah and Morgan were both bested in three sets each. Danquah fell 6-2, 5-7, 10-5 while Morgan fell short of the comeback victory 4-6, 6-2, 10-7. Mendoza fought hard in the fifth spot, but came up short 5-7, 4-6.
