EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team captured its first victory of the 2017-18 season with a 5-4 opening match win over Tiffin University at the Evansville Tennis Center.
 
The Screaming Eagles edged Tiffin 2-1 in the doubles competition to take the early lead with freshman Martim Café (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) and freshmen Spencer Blandford (Louisville, Kentucky) notching the first win 8-0 at number thee doubles. Junior Ilia Karelin (Ekaterinburg, Russia) and freshman Alexander Lawrenz (Hamburg, Germany) closed out the USI doubles wins with an 8-2 win at number two doubles. 

USI (1-0, 0-0 GLVC) and Tiffiin (1-2, 0-0 GLIAC) battle back and forth in the singles competition, Karelin clinching the match for the Eagles with a  6-3, 7-5 decision at number four singles. Senior Samuel Kiladejo (London, England) got the Eagles going in singles with a  7-6, 6-2 win at number one, while Lawrenz  picked up the victory 6-4, 6-1 at number two.  
 
USI turns around and travels to Quincy, Illinois to play Quincy University for their next match on Saturday, February 3 for its first road match of the 2018 season.