BOX SCORE: NKU 5, USI 4 
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 32^nd-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team lost in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Preliminary Round, 5-4, to 36^th-ranked Northern Kentucky University Saturday afternoon in Midland, Michigan  USI, who was the top third seed in the preliminary round, finishes the season with a 21-3 overall record.
 
The Screaming Eagles trailed early after losing number one doubles, but bounced to take the matches at number two and three. Senior Diego Gimenez and junior Juan Quiroz put the Eagles on the scoreboard with an 8-3 win at number two, while juniors Ben Boesing and Rodrigo Flores won 8-4 at number three doubles to give USI a 2-1 lead.
 
In singles, USI extended the lead to 3-1 when Quiroz posted a straight-set win at number one singles. NKU rallied to take a 4-3 lead with three-straight singles wins at number six, two, and five. The Eagles bounced back to tie the score, 4-4, when Boesing came back from a one-set deficit to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
 
The deciding match was at number four singles. Freshman Michael Kuzaj took the first set, 7-6, but lost the second by the same score. Kuzaj lost in the third set, 4-1, after being forced to retire with an injury. He had fallen behind 3-0 early in the third set.