BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Coming up clutch in singles action, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's tennis team picked up a gritty, 6-3, win over Webster University Friday night, Feb. 23. With their fourth straight win, the Titans improve to 4-1, while Webster falls to 2-4.
Freshman Thad Dillow (Effingham, Ill.-Effingham) and sophomore Griffin Hammond (Metamora, Ill.-Metamora Township) picked up the sole victory in paired action for the Green and White, with an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles.
Trailing 2-1 after doubles, IWU claimed five of six singles matches to secure the win, two of which went the full three sets. Fresh off a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week award, sophomore Ian Turnbull (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) opened singles play with a win at the top spot, winning his sets 6-3, 6-2. Senior Ryan McCoy (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Rolling Meadows) picked up the win at No. 3 singles behind set scores of 6-1, 6-3. Dillow added to his successful night with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 4 singles.
Junior Zeke Cross (Springfield, Ill.-Springfield) and Hammond each went the full distance to secure wins at No. 5 and 6 singles, respectively, ultimately locking up the win for the Titans. After dropping his first set, 6-3, Cross battled back to take the next two, 6-1 and 10-5. In a similar position Hammond fell in his first set, 6-4, but took the second set, 7-5, and secured his win with a third set score of 10-6.
Illinois Wesleyan will play Illinois State University in an exhibition match tomorrow, Feb. 24, at Evergreen Racquet Club, home to both teams. Action is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Singles competition
1. Turnbull, Ian (IWU) def. Matthew Birchmeier (WUM) 6-3, 6-2
2. Ethan Foucheaux (WUM) def. Vigneri, Ben (IWU) 6-0, 6-3
3. McCoy, Ryan (IWU) def. Carson Fisher (WUM) 6-1, 6-3
4. Dillow, Thad (IWU) def. Robert McDaniel (WUM) 6-0, 6-2
5. Cross, Zeke (IWU) def. Jack Forlenza (WUM) 3-6, 6-1, 10-5
6. Hammond, Griffin (IWU) def. Tyler Gonzalez (WUM) 4-6, 7-5, 10-6
Doubles competition
1. Matthew Birchmeier/Carson Fisher (WUM) def. Turnbull, Ian/McCoy, Ryan (IWU) 8-4
2. Ethan Foucheaux/Tyler Gonzalez (WUM) def. Vigneri, Ben/Cross, Zeke (IWU) 8-6
3. Dillow, Thad/Hammond, Griffin (IWU) def. Robert McDaniel/Jack Forlenza (WUM) 8-6
