GREENWOOD, Ind.-- The University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team was defeated by the 19
th-ranked University of Indianapolis, 5-4, Saturday afternoon at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles fall to 15-4 on the year with their only loss in Great Lakes Valley Conference competition.
The loss snaps a ten-match win streak that has spanned over six weeks. The last loss for the Eagles came by the hands of Francis Marion University on March 9.
The lone win of doubles play for US came at number-three. Junior
Aaron Barris (Marietta, Georgia) and freshman
James Hardiman (Blackwell Bristol, United Kingdom) earned an 8-5 win to push their undefeated season streak to 13. The win streak puts the duo into third-place in the USI record books for consecutive doubles wins.
The other two Eagles' doubles teams saw impressive win streaks come to an end. Seniors
Jack Joyce (Bournemouth, England) and
Joel Stern (Mjoelby, Sweden) dropped their match at number-two, 8-6, for their first loss of the year. Despite the loss at number-one doubles, sophomore
Samuel Kiladejo (London, England) and junior
Paul Forichon (Nimes, France) competed against a tough Indy team, falling 8-6.
The Eagles singles competition was highlighted by a stellar win for freshman Hardiman, earning his second win of the afternoon. The freshman dropped his first set to Luke Hubert of Indy, 6-4, before forcing a pro set with a 6-1 second set victory. Hardiman would then take the victory with a 10-4 score over Hubert who now has an impressive 23-4 record on the year for the top ranked team in the Midwest Region. The win streak for Hardiman in singles play also reached 10 straight games with his season record improving to 16-3.
Also getting wins in singles play were Forichon and Barris. At number five, Forichon dropped his first set but was able to recover and win the next two; 1-6, 7-6, 6-4. The win is the ninth straight for the junior whose record improves to 18-3. Barris earned his sixth consecutive victory with his 6-4, 6-4 win at number-six.
With the regular season coming to an end, the Eagles now look to the GLVC Tournament. Unofficially, with their 5-1 record, USI will be awarded the number-two seed in the East Division. With current standings, the first round opponent for the Eagles would be Rockhurst University in Romeoville, Illinois. The first round will begin Friday.
Check back to GoUSIEagles.com or follow the Eagles on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the handle @USIAthletics for the official release of the 2016 GLVC Tennis Tournament bracket.
