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Men’s Tennis Heads to Wisconsin for Two Matches in Two Days

Titans face Carroll Friday, April 19, before heading to Carthage Saturday, April 20

4/18/2024 3:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Continuing its stretch of road matches, the Illinois Wesleyan University men's tennis team heads to Wisconsin for two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin matches in two days Friday-Saturday, April 19-20. IWU (9-6, 2-2 CCIW) will face Carroll University Friday night at 4 p.m. before taking on Carthage College Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m.

The Titans enter the matches off a loss to Augustana College Saturday, April 13, falling 9-0. Sophomore Ian Turnbull (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) put up a fight at No. 1 singles. Turnbull took the first set, 6-3, but fell in the second, 6-4. In the super tiebreaker, Turnbull was not able to come away with the win, falling 10-3. Also battling in singles action, freshman Thad Dillow (Effingham, Ill.-Effingham) went a full three sets at No. 4 singles. Opening the match with a 6-3 first set victory, but dropped the next two, 6-2 and 10-5.

Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll will face off for the 12th time in program history, with the series dating back to 1990. The Titans own a slim, 6-5, advantage in the series, and have won the last four meetings. Most recently, IWU picked up an 8-1 victory over the Pios April 16, 2023. Then-freshman Ben Vigneri (Casper, Wyo.-Phillips Exeter Academy) and then-sophomore Zeke Cross (Springfield, Ill.-Springfield) helped the Titans close out the sweep in paired play with an 8-0 decision at No. 3 doubles. In the singles portion, then-junior Ryan McCoy (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Rolling Meadows) used set scores of 6-2 and 6-3, to take the win at No. 2. Vigneri was victorious at No. 4 singles, winning both sets 6-3, while Cross closed out the match with a No. 6 singles win, using all three sets to do so. Dropping the first set, 6-3, Cross staged a comeback, taking the second set 6-3, and closing out the match with a 10-4 tiebreaking set win. CU enters the contest off a 5-4 victory over Augie Sunday, April 14, to up its record to 10-5 overall, and 2-2 in league play.

Saturday's match will be the 36th meeting all-time between the Titans and Firebirds, with the series dating back to 1991. Carthage has been victorious in 29 of the 35 previous meetings, and took the last match, 9-0, April 15, 2023. IWU looks to defeat Carthage for the first time since 2005. The Firebirds will face Millikin University Friday night prior to hosting the Green and White. Most recently, Carthage defeated University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Saturday, April 13, improving its record to 18-4 overall (3-1 CCIW).

Results will be posted on iwusports.com upon the completion of the matches.

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