SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The men's and women's tennis teams went down south over spring break and competed three times in a three day span in Georgia. The two teams faced off against Emmanuel College, Young Harris, and North Georgia. The men's team was victorious one time while the women's team battled hard in all three matches but came up short.

MEN'S TENNIS: Beat Emmanuel 5-4, Lost Young Harris 8-1, Lost North Georgia 9-0
In the first match of the trip, the Prairie Stars beat Emmanuel College in a close dual, winning 5-4 after taking two of three doubles matches and then the top three matches in singles play. Cole Buehnerkemper and Sam Clarke won in decisive fashion 8-1 before Logan Burgess Hayes and Santiago Pedraza won as well in a grind out match 9-8.

Buehnerkemper, Clark, and Burgess Hayes each won their singles match as well, but it was the three set win from Burgess Hayes that clinched the victory. In the three spot, he was the last match to finish and came away with a 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 come from behind win to take the match 5-4.

Against Young Harris, the tandem of Buehnerkemper and Burgess Hayes were the only victorious group on the day, winning their doubles match 8-6. In singles, Buehnerkemper fell in a tough two set match while Burgess Hayes also played well in the three spot. Clarke fell for the first time in seven matches.

Young Harris went into the match ranked 41^st in the country.

In the final match of the week, UIS fell to #20 North Georgia 0-9. Buehnerkemper and Burgess Hayes had the best doubles match, falling 8-6 while Clarke put up the best fight in singles, taking five total games in a two set loss.

WOMEN'S TENNIS: Lost Emmanuel 6-3, Lost Young Harris 9-0, Lost North Georgia 9-0
In their first spring break match, UIS battled hard but fell just short against Emmanuel. The duo of Danielle Mendoza and Katelyn Michl won the lone doubles match, beating the Emmanuel pair 8-2 while Sharon Danquah and Jasmin Morgan fell by the same score. Faith Hook and Jane Carter fell 8-5 in the second slot.

In singles, Danquah and Mendoza picked up victories, both winning in straight sets. Danquah won 6-4, 6-1 while Mendoza worked quickly, winning 6-1, 6-2. Carter, playing in the top spot, fell in three sets, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Michl also fell in three sets, coming back to win the second set 5-7 but falling 10-6 in the final set.

The Prairie Stars fell to Young Harris but Carter and Danquah put up a battle in doubles play, falling 8-4. Again in the top singles spot, Carter fell 6-3, 6-3 while Morgan battled in the three spot but ultimately lost 6-4, 6-1.

In their final match of the road swing, UIS fell to North Georgia on their home court. In doubles action, Carter and Danquah nearly pulled the upset, but fell 8-6. Hook and Carter both posted 6-3, 6-4 defeats in singles play.

UIS will return home on March 25^th to take on William Jewell in non-conference action. They will continue that weekend facing Findlay and Lewis and Clark Community College, all matches will be held at Washington Park.