Dan McDonnell, USI Sports Information
#24 Southern Indiana (17-6): 5
#38 Rockhurst (9-6): 3
ST. LOUIS—The No. 24 University of Southern Indiana men’s tennis team capitalized on a pair of doubles victories by winning three singles matches en route to a 5-3 win over No. 38 Rockhurst University in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament Friday morning.
USI (17-6) got wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to build a 2-1 advantage heading into singles play. Sophomore Jack Joyce and senior Santiago Lopez, both of whom were named to the All-GLVC team Thursday night, paired for an 8-6 victory at No. 1 doubles, while sophomore Joel Stern and freshman Josh Walden posted an 8-6 triumph at No. 2.
Joyce and Lopez each picked up straight-set wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, while Stern sealed the victory with a straight-set victory at No. 4 singles.
The Screaming Eagles, who are advancing beyond the GLVC Tournament first round for the sixth straight season, face the No. 1 seed from the GLVC West Division, Drury University, in the semifinals Saturday morning at 9 a.m. USI is the No. 2 seed from the East Division, while Rockhurst was the No. 3 seed in the West.
Drury (19-2), ranked No. 12 nationally, defeated the No. 4 seed from the East Division, Lewis University, 5-0, in the opening round Friday morning. Also advancing into Saturday’s semifinals were the No. 1 seed from the East, the University of Indianapolis, and the No. 3 seed from the East, McKendree University.
UIndy, ranked No. 31 nationally, defeated the No. 4 seed from the West Division, Truman State University, 5-0, while McKendree edged the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the No. 2 seed from the West Division, 5-4.
The GLVC Championship is Sunday at noon, while the consolation bracket match is Sunday at 9 a.m.
