GALESBURG, Ill. – The Illinois College men's tennis team showed no signs of fatigue in the middle of a busy stretch of matches on Sunday, registering consecutive 8-1 wins over Knox College and Dominican University. The two wins improve the Blueboys to 3-6 overall on the season, while the victory over Knox moves IC to 1-0 in the Midwest Conference.
The day kicked off early, with Illinois College and Knox getting started at 9 a.m. The Blueboys bolted out to a 3-0 lead after sweeping the doubles matches. The No. 1 team of
Miguel Vaca and
Michael Connolly and No. 2 team of
Jonah Wheeland and
Cameron Doerr each held on for 8-6 wins. The No. 3 team of
Jacob McQueen and
Connor McAndrew had an easier time, winning 8-3.
In singles, Vaca earned a point for IC at No. 1 when Knox's No. 1 player retired in the middle of the first set. The Blueboys also took home wins at Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Connolly defeated Jared Schwarz at No. 3, 6-1, 6-3. Doerr was a 6-0, 6-1 victor over Dobbin Pine at No. 4. McQueen pitched a shutout against Kyle Yang at No. 5, 6-0, 6-0. McAndrew took a first-set tiebreaker and then dominated the second set at No. 6, winning 7-6(3), 6-0.
In the second match of the day, Illinois College took a 2-1 lead after doubles and then swept the six singles matches to earn a non-conference win over Dominican. Vaca and Connolly earned an 8-3 win at the No. 1 doubles match and the other point came at No. 3 where McQueen and McAndrew won, 8-4.
The Blueboys won all six singles matches against the Stars in straight sets. Vaca took out Alexander Tobias at No. 1, 6-1, 6-3. Wheeland downed Antonio Morales at No. 2, 6-1, 6-2. In the No. 3 match, Connolly outlasted Brandon Pineda, 7-6(2), 6-2. Doerr eased past Joshua Sapnu at No. 4, 6-2, 6-1. McQueen capped a perfect day with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 5 over Eric Sigaran. Finally, McAndrew blasted Samuel Pardinas at No. 6 singles, 6-1, 6-0.
A stretch of five matches in five days comes to a close tomorrow night as Illinois College welcomes in Fontbonne University for a 5 p.m. match at the Bellatti Tennis Complex.
