By: Freshman Miguel Vaca improved his Spring singles record to 3-0 on Saturday, defeating opponents from Principia and Millikin at No. 1 singles.
ELSAH, Ill. – The Illinois College men's tennis team fell in a pair of matches on Saturday to Principia College and Millikin University, but the Blueboys continued to show signs of progress with the additions of two freshmen.
Miguel Vaca won both his singles matches at No. 1 and combined with fellow newcomer
Michael Connolly to notch the first doubles point for IC since April of 2014. The Panthers defended their home court with an 8-1 win over Illinois College, while Millikin claimed a 7-2 victory over the Blueboys.
It was very nearly a perfect 4-0 day for Vaca. Starting off the morning with No. 1 doubles against Principia, the two freshmen rallied from a 5-2 deficit to force a tiebreaker at 8-8 before the Panthers outlasted them for a 9-8 (7-4) win. In singles, the Panthers quickly iced the victory. Connolly put up a solid fight in his match at No. 2 against Brody Swan before losing a 6-1, 6-4 decision. Vaca rolled over Principia's No. 1, Julian Kitchingman, 6-3, 6-2.
There was only a short break before Illinois College resumed action against Millikin in a neutral-site match. The Big Blue won easily at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, but Connolly and Vaca again came back from a 5-2 deficit, this time riding the momentum to an 8-6 win. Millikin wrapped up the non-conference win with singles victories at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, but Vaca got one final point for the Blueboys with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph at No. 1 singles over Emerick Fulton.
Illinois College will have a week to prepare for its next match, a Feb. 20 meeting with Greenville College slated for a 5 p.m. start in O'Fallon, Ill.
