EVANSVILLE, Ind. The University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team fell to .500 in the GLVC after losing 6-3 to Bellarmine University. The loss puts the Screaming Eagles (8-11, 5-5 GLVC) in a tie for fifth-place in the conference with the Knights. 

Friday's final regular season match took over six hours to complete as rain forced the contest from the USI Tennis Courts to Advantage Courts and Fitness. Bellarmine entered the rain delay with the advantage after the Knights took two of three from USI in doubles. Senior Christoph Burger(Germany) and junior Nathan Sexton (Santee, California) had USI's lone victory as they defeated Bellarmine's Tim Braam and Nicolas Janssen-Bernard 9-7 at number one doubles.

When play resumed at Advantage, Burger picked up his 17th solo win of the season. He defeated Bellarmine's Nathan Matthews 7-5, 6-2 at number one singles. However, the Knights won four of the other five matches to secure the win.

Freshman Ben Hamm (Batesville, Indiana) picked up the only other victory for the Eagles. He won a super tiebreaker 6-4, 5-7, 10-5 against Tyler Worley at number five singles. Junior Dustin Thomas(Corydon, Indiana) saw his match come down to a super tiebreaker, but the junior lost 6-4, 5-7, 10-7 to David Royer. 

USI senior Andrew McGuire (Greenwood, Indiana) lost his second-straight after he put together a seven match win streak prior to this week's action.

The Screaming Eagles now prepare for the GLVC Tournament scheduled for April 25-26 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 




Andrew Stanley, USI Sports Information Intern