(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 20)—The McKendree University men’s tennis team was defeated in its 2008 spring season opener Friday at Saint Louis University, 6-1.

 

The Bearcats’ lone victory came at No. 1 singles, where freshman Timon Riechelt (Germany) rallied to defeat the Billikens’ Felipe Acosta in three sets, 2-6, 6-3 and 6-3. Freshman Gus Occhipinti (Bahia Blanca, Argentina/) (Argentina) was the only other McKendree player to take an opponent to three sets in singles play. Saint Louis’ Paul Feder outlasted Occhipinti by scores of 6-1, 6-7 and 6-2.

 

McKendree, 0-1 on the spring season, will return to action March 19 at the University of Illinois at Springfield. First serve is set for 2:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Singles –

Timon Reichelt (Germany/) (McK) def. Felipe Acosta (SLU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3

P.J. Hendrie (SLU) def. Evgeniy Nigmatyanov (McK) 7-5, 6-2

Sean McManus (SLU) def. Danny Gonzalez (McK) 6-3, 6-4

Marcus Fadal (SLU) def. Ben Schloesser (Belleville, IL/Belleville East) (McK) 6-0, 6-1

Paul Feder (SLU) def. Gus Occhipinti (Bahia Blanca, Argentina/) (McK) 6-1, 6-7, 6-2

Matt Gordon (SLU) def. Ruven Kloecker (Germany/) (McK) 6-0, 7-5

 

Doubles –

Acosta/Feder (SLU) def. Reichelt/Gonzalez (McK) 8-5

Hendrie/McManus (SLU) def. Schloesser/Nigmatyanov (McK) 8-4

Adam Reeb/Fadal (SLU) def. Occhipinti/Andres Marquez (Carterville, GA/Woodland) (McK) 8-0

 

McKendree is 0-1 on the season