(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 21)—The McKendree College men’s tennis team kicked off its 2007 spring season last weekend at the Principia College Tournament. The four-team event featured McKendree, Principia College, Truman State University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The tournament was supposed to be played Friday and Saturday, but the Bearcats competed on Friday only due to inclement weather on Saturday.

 

Two Bearcats posted multiple victories in the first day of play. Senior Daniel Quinn (Melbourne, Australia/Lewis and Clark CC) (Melbourne, Australia) earned two wins at No. 1 singles, both of which came in a tie-breaker. Quinn took a 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 win in a second-round match against Andy Dimke of Missouri-St. Louis before rallying for a 2-6, 6-0, 10-7 victory over Graham Wightman of Principia.

 

Playing at No. 4 singles, freshman Daniel Gonzales (Lima, Peru) also won two matches via tie-breaker. Gonzales outlasted Kyle Schlotz of Truman State, 6-7, 6-1 and 10-8 before hanging on in a 6-1, 3-6, 10-6 decision against Peter Hantack of Missouri-St. Louis.

 

McKendree will return to the courts March 3 at the St. Clair Tennis Club against Benedictine College. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.