Belleville, IL - McKendree University Men's Tennis turned in a strong three-match stretch, earning a pair of impressive victories while narrowly falling in a tightly contested match. The Bearcats dropped a 4-3 decision to Northwest Missouri State despite winning the doubles point, then responded with a statement 5-1 win over Rockhurst highlighted by a clutch clinching performance, before closing the weekend with a dominant 6-1 victory over Southwestern Illinois.

VS. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE | LOST, 3-4
McKendree opened the stretch with a tightly contested 4-3 loss to Northwest Missouri State in a match that came down to the final courts. 

The Bearcats secured the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3, and Bendix-Schroeder and Ignacio Paolini earned a 6-4 victory, followed by Aimar Oregui and Arhaan Pahwa matching that scoreline at No. 3. 

In singles, McKendree picked up victories from Schroeder and No. 2 (6-4, 6-4) and Luka Kalenic at No. 4, who battled to a straight-set win that included a tiebreak in the second set. However, Northwest Missouri State claimed four singles matches, including three-set decisions at No. 1 and No. 6, to edge out the team result. 

VS. ROCKHURST | WON, 5-1
The Bearcats responded in a big way with a 5-1 victory over Rockhurst, highlighted by a dramatic clinching performance. 

McKendree claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Schroeder and Paolini secured a 6-2 victory, while Riccardo Ercolani and Felix Diedrichs followed with a 6-4 win. 

In singles, McKendree took control early behind straight-set victories from Paolini at No. 1 (7-5, 6-3) and Schroeder at No. 2 (6-3, 6-1). The match was ultimately decided at No. 3 singles, where Felix Diedrichs delivered a clutch performance to seal the team victory. In what Coach Chance Joost called a "huge upset", Diedrichs battled through a back-and-forth three-set match, ultimately winning a dramatic tiebreaker 13-11. After jumping out to a 9-2 lead, Deidrichs saw Rockhurst rally to even the score at 9-9 before regaining control and closing out the match, clinching the victory for the Bearcats. 

Kalenic also added a three-set win at No. 4. 

@ SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS | W, 6-1
McKendree capped the weekend with a dominant 6-1 win over Southwestern Illinois, controlling the match from the outset. 

The Bearcats swept doubles play, winning all three matches in convincing fashion. Luka Kalenic and Bendix Schroeder led with a 6-1 win at No. 1, while Oregui and Paolini matched that score at No. 2. Emile Potgens and Mathijs Aalpol completed the sweep with a 6-0 victory. 

In singles, McKendree won five of six matches, with four coming in straight sets. Paolini (No. 1), Schroeder (No. 2), Aalpol (No. 3), Potgens (No. 4), and Jose Soriano (No. 5) all recorded convincing wins. The only point for Southwestern Illinois came at No. 6, where Ankit Nandal forced a third-set tiebreak before falling. 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
vs. Missouri Baptist Spartans
Saturday, March 28th - 11:00 AM
at Belleville, IL - Belleville East HS