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Thad Dillow about to serve against Monmouth Feb.
© AshtinElder

Men’s Tennis Hosts Webster for Friday Night Battle

Action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

2/22/2024 4:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Coming off two wins at home last weekend, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's tennis team will host Webster University Friday, Feb. 23. Action is set to begin inside Evergreen Racquet Club at 7 p.m.

The Titans (3-1) enter Friday after narrowly defeating Principia College, 5-4, in a thrilling match Saturday, Feb. 17. It marked the first time in program history that the Titans defeated the Panthers, with a series dating back to 2012. The match saw sophomore Ian Turnbull (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) win a hard fought battle 4-6, 6-0, 10-6, in the No. 1 singles slot. Freshman Thad Dillow (Effingham, Ill.-Effingham) bounced back after dropping his first set, as he took the next two, 6-3, 12-10, to secure the win at No. 4 singles. Sophomore Griffin Hammond (Metamora, Ill.-Metamora Township) picked up the win at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 6-2, to secure the Titans victory.

After picking up four combined wins in two matches Saturday, with two coming at No. 1 singles and a pair at No. 1 doubles, Turnbull was awarded Co-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career, Tuesday, Feb. 20. A second team All-CCIW selection for the 2022-23 season, it marked the first weekly award of his career. Turnbull shared the honor with North Central College's Ramon Vilarroig.

With the seventh meeting on deck, IWU holds a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series against Webster, dating back to 2011. The most recent contest saw Illinois Wesleyan win, 7-2, Feb. 19, 2023. Then-junior Ryan McCoy (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Rolling Meadows), then-freshman Ben Vigneri (Casper, Wyo.-Phillips Exeter Academy), and then-sophomore Zeke Cross (Springfield, Ill.-Springfield) secured wins at No. 2, 4, and 6 singles, respectively. The Gorloks will compete for the first time in 2024 on Saturday, and enter with an overall record of 2-3 on the 2023-24 season.

IWU will conclude the weekend against Illinois State University in an exhibition match Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m. inside Evergreen Racquet Club.
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