The 34th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s tennis team dropped a close matchup with 36th-ranked Grand Valley State, falling to the Lakers 5-4 Friday at Wesselman Park.
The Screaming Eagles held a 2-1 advantage after doubles play, but were unable to hold onto the lead. After falling behind 1-0, sophomores Ilia Karelin (Ekaterinburg, Russia) and Andrew Dones (Georgetown, Indiana) tied the match with an 8-3 victory at number three. USI then took a 2-1 lead behind the duo of senior Aaron Barris (Marietta, Georgia) and junior Samuel Kiladejo (London, England), as they picked up an 8-4 win at number two.
USI dropped the first three singles matches to fall behind 4-2, before freshman Denis Davydov (Chorvatsky Grob, Slovakia) got the Eagles back within a point with a 6-4, 6-1 win at number two. GVSU then sealed the win with a point at number five, and Barris won at number four 7-5, 6-4, to give the match its final tally.
Next up for the Eagles is a trip to Illinois Springfield, as they open up GLVC play tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.
#36 Grand Valley State 5, #34 Southern Indiana 4
Mar 24, 2017 at Evansville, Indiana (Wesselman Park)
Singles competition
1. Sebastien Lescoulie (GV-M) def. James Hardiman (USI) 6-1, 1-0
2. Denis Davydov (USI) def. Zach Phillps (GV-M) 6-4, 6-1
3. Jack Geissler (GV-M) def. Samuel Kiladejo (USI) 6-2, 6-3
4. Aaron Barris (USI) def. Alex vande Steenoven (GV-M) 7-5, 6-4
5. Jack Heiniger (GV-M) def. Ilia Karelin (USI) 6-3, 6-4
6. Nicholas Urban (GV-M) def. Andrew Dones (USI) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Zach Phillps/Alex vande Steenoven (GV-M) def. James Hardiman/Denis Davydov (USI) 8-2
2. Aaron Barris/Samuel Kiladejo (USI) def. Jack Heiniger/Sebastien Lescoulie (GV-M) 8-4
3. Ilia Karelin/Andrew Dones (USI) def. Nicholas Urban/Jack Geissler (GV-M) 8-3
Match Notes
Grand Valley State 12-4; National ranking #36
Southern Indiana 12-7; National ranking #34
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,6,3,2,5,4)
