Eastern Illinois University Team Page
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Eastern Illinois men's tennis snapped a season-long seven-match losing streak on Friday evening, hitting past IUPUI, 4-3, with the match being held at the Wabash Valley Tennis Center in Terre Haute, Ind.
The Panthers, who played as the home team, won the meet despite not being able to pick-up the all-important doubles point as the No. 1 duo of Jeff Rutherford and Justin Haag picked up the lone win at the top of the doubles lineup by a score of 8-4.
In singles, senior Jeff Rutherford, freshman Warren Race, sophomore Matyas Hilgert, and newcomer Michael Sperry each hit past their respective IUPUI opponent to pull out the 4-3 victory.
Rutherford won a straight set bout at the top of the lineup, as did Race at the No. 2 spot, while both Hilgert and Sperry won in consecutive frames at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
At No. 4 Singles, Jamie Firth dropped a tough three-set affair after winning the opening set. The same thing happened to Justin Haag at No. 4, as he won the first set but proceeded to lose the next two.
The Panthers, who improved to 3-8 on the season, return to the court in just over a week, heading to East Lansing to face Big Ten power Michigan State on March 13.
