(LEBANON, Ill., April 7)—The McKendree University men's tennis team enjoyed a successful weekend at the Hack Kellner Invitational, which was hosted by the University of Illinois at Springfield. The Bearcats won two of three matches at the event along with an exhibition victory.

McKendree pushed its record to 5-4 overall. The Bearcats will return to action Monday with a road match at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

On Friday, McKendree opened play with a 5-0 victory over Greenville College. The Bearcats' top three singles players cruised to straight-set victories. Freshman Timon Reichelt (Germany/) (Germany) posted a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles. Fellow freshman Evganiy Nigmatyanou (Uzbekistan) was a 6-2, 6-0 winner at No. 2 singles, and freshman Ruven Kloecker (Germany/) (Germany) took a 6-0, 6-2 decision at No. 3 singles.

Nigmatyanou and Kloecker combined for an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles, while Reichelt and senior Ben Schloesser (Belleville, IL/Belleville East) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) rolled to an 8-1 victory playing at No. 2 doubles.

Next up for McKendree was a match with Olivet Nazarene University, the No. 22-ranked team in the latest NAIA poll. The Bearcats and Tigers split their six singles contests, but McKendree was able to squeak out a pair of wins in doubles competition to post a 5-4 upset victory.

Reichelt turned in a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles followed by a 6-0, 6-2 decision for Nigmatyanou at No. 2 singles. Sophomore Daniel Gonzales (Lima, Peru) registered a 6-1, 6-1 win in the No. 4 singles slot for the Bearcats.

Reichelt and Nigmatyanou teamed up for an 8-5 win in the No. 1 doubles match. Reichelt and Schloesser followed with an 8-3 victory in the No. 2 doubles slot.

The Bearcats opened Saturday's play with a 6-0 exhibition victory over Elgin Community College before facing host Illinois-Springfield. McKendree dominated singles play with four wins in six matches, but the Prairie Stars swept the doubles competition to record a 5-4 win.

At No. 1 singles, Reichelt battled to a 7-6, 6-3 win, while Kloecker needed three sets to post a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 victory in the No. 3 singles slot. Gonzales followed with a 6-1, 6-2 decision at No. 4 singles. Freshman Gus Occhipinti (Bahia Blanca, Argentina/) (Bahia Blanca, Argentina) rounded out the list of winners for McKendree with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles.

-McK-