EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's tennis team celebrated Senior Day with a dramatic 5-4 victory over McKendree University Saturday evening at the Tri-State Athletic Club. USI saw its record go to 8-10 overall and 3-0 in the GLVC, while McKenree goes to 4-9, 1-2 GLVC.
 
The Screaming Eagles started the match with a bang and swept through doubles action with three-straight victories. Freshman Alexander Lawrenz (Hamburg, Germany) and junior Ilia Karelin (Ekaterinburg, Russia) kicked off the sweep with an 8-2 victory at number two doubles, while freshman Spencer Blandford (Louisville, Kentucky) and freshman Martim Cafe (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) made it 2-0 by prevailing 8-5 at number three.
 
USI made it 3-0 after senior Samuel Kiladejo (London, England) and junior Andrew Dones (Georgetown, Indiana) notched a 9-7 victory in the number one slot.
 
In singles play, McKendree rallied to win four of the first five singles matches to knot the dual match at 4-4. Karlelin scratched out a 6-4, 6-3 victory at number three singles to keep the Eagles in the match.
 
Bradford would save the match for the Eagles with a three-set marathon victory at number six singles. The freshman took the opening set, 6-3, and lost a tie-breaker in the second set, 6-7 (7-3), before rallying to dominate the third set, 6-2.
  
The Eagles will finish the 2017-18 regular season next weekend on the road when they travel to University of Indianapolis April 13 and Lewis University April 14. Match time at UIndy will be 2 p.m., while the dual match Lewis is slated for an 11 a.m. start.