(LEBANON, Ill., March 5)—Singles play proved to be the difference as the McKendree College men’s tennis team posted a 5-4 victory Monday over the University of Illinois at Springfield in a match played at St. Clair Tennis Club.

 

The Bearcats won four of the six singles matches while taking one of the three doubles contests to capture its first victory of the year. McKendree is now 1-1 overall and will return to action March 26 in a rematch against Illinois-Springfield. The road contest for the Bearcats will begin at 3 p.m.

 

Senior Daniel Quinn (Melbourne, Australia/Lewis and Clark CC) (Melbourne, Australia) rallied for a three-set victory at No. 1 singles. After cruising to a 6-2 win the first set, Quinn dropped the second by a 6-1 count before rolling to a 6-2 victory in the decisive set. Senior Alex Henne (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) was victorious at No. 2 singles, while freshman Caio Tortato (Sao Paulo, Brazil) notched a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles. Freshman Daniel Gonzalez (Lima, Peru) rounded out the list of singles match winners for McKendree with a 6-4, 6-3 decision at No. 4 singles.

 

Quinn teamed with junior Andres Marquez (Carterville, GA/Woodland) (Carterville, Ga./Woodland) for an 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles.

 

 

Daniel Quinn (Melbourne, Australia/Lewis and Clark CC) (McK) def. David Ptak (UIS), 6-2, 1-6, 6-2

Alex Henne (McK) def. Jose Talavera (UIS), no score provided

Caio Tortato (McK) def. Mihael Stoja (UIS), 6-1, 6-4

Daniel Gonzalez (McK) def. Cramen (UIS), 6-4, 6-3

Bruno Castaneda (UIS) def. Ben Schloesser (Belleville, IL/Belleville East) (McK), 6-2, 6-1

Conner McGowan (UIS) def. Andres Marquez (Carterville, GA/Woodland) (McK), 6-3, 6-3

 

Talavera/Ptak (UIS) def. Henne/Tortato (McK), 8-2

Cramen/McGowan (UIS) def. Gonzalez/Schloesser (McK), 8-4

Quinn/Marquez (McK) def. Stoja/Castaneda (UIS), 8-3

 

McKendree is 1-1 overall.