BLOOMINGTON, Ill.- The Illinois Wesleyan University men's tennis team swept its home opening triangular meet, as the Titans (3-0) defeated Franklin College, 4-3, and beat Webster University, 6-1. With three victories to open the dual portion of its season, IWU jumps out to its best start since 2020-21.

Against Franklin (0-1), Illinois Wesleyan swept the doubles point. At the top spot, seniors Ian Turnbull (Bloomington, Ill.-Bloomington) and Ben Vigneri (Casper, Wyo.-Phillip Exeter) defeated Clark Hersam and Jaden Wells, 7-5. At the two line, junior Thad Dillow (Effingham, Ill.-Effingham) and senior Griffin Hammond (Metamora, Ill.-Metamora Township) took down Marcus Cox and Shay Kyser 6-1. Freshmen Will Ehrlich (Springfield, Ill.-Glenwood) and Truman Raher (Peoria, Ill.-Richwoods) secured the sweep with a 7-6 (4) win over Brendan Hanner and Luke Morris.

In singles action, Turnbull defeated Hersam 6-1, 6-1. Vigneri followed with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Cox, and Hammond took down Brian Venneman 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. Franklin earned wins at the three, five, and six spots.

In the second match of the day, IWU defeated Webster (0-1) to secure the pair of wins in the home opener. After Webster claimed the doubles point, the Green and White swept the singles slate, beginning with a win from Turnbull at No. 1 singles over Eli Bartek, 6-1, 6-0. Vigneri took down Griffin Olson, 6-2, 6-1 at the second singles spot. At number three singles, Dillow blanked Jack Forlenza, 6-0, 6-0. Hammond followed with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Nick Granada in the four singles slot. Ehrlich defeated Shaun Smith, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5 singles. Raher won at the six singles spot by default.

The Titans are back in action on the road in Galesburg, Ill. They take on Monmouth College and Principia College, Saturday, Feb. 21, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. 


Illinois Wesleyan vs Franklin Results

Doubles
Turnbull, Ian/Vigneri Ben (IWU) def. Hersam, Clark/Wells, Jaden (Franklin) 7-5
Dillow, Thad/Hammond Griffin (IWU)  def. Cox, Marcus/Kyser, Shay (Franklin) 6-1
Ehrlich, Will/Raher, Truman (IWU) def. Hanner, Brendan/Morris, Luke (Franklin) 7-6 (4)

Singles
Turnbull, Ian (IWU) def. Hersam, Clark (Franklin) 6-1,6-1
Vigneri, Ben (IWU) def. Cox, Marcus (Franklin) 7-5, 6-0
Wells, Jaden (Franklin) def. Dillow, Thad (IWU) 6-4, 6-4
Hammond, Griffin (IWU) def. Venneman, Brian (Franklin) 6-1, 6-1
Richard, Raymond (Franklin) def. Ehrlich, Will (IWU) 7-5, 6-2
Rund, Avram (Franklin) def. Tomecki, Chase (IWU) 6-3, 6-1


Illinois Wesleyan vs Webster Results

Doubles
Bartek, Eli/Smith Shaun (Webster) def. Turnbull, Ian/Vigneri Ben (IWU) 6-4
Forlenza, Jack/Granada, Nick def. Dillow, Thad/Hammond, Griffin (IWU) 6-4 
Ehrlich, Will/Tomecki, Chase (IWU) def. Webster - default

Singles
Turnbull, Ian (IWU) def. Bartek, Eli (Webster) 6-1, 6-0
Vigneri, Ben (IWU) def. Olson, Griffin (Webster) 6-2, 6-1
Dillow, Thad (IWU) def. Forlenza, Jack (Webster)  6-0, 6-0
Hammond, Griffin (IWU) def. Granada, Nick (Webster) 6-2, 6-4
Ehrlich, Will (IWU) def. Smith, Shaun (Webster) 6-1, 6-2
Raher, Truman (IWU) def. Webster default