EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Tennis started their spring season with wins over Cumberland University on Friday, 4-3, and over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Saturday, 7-0. Cumberland was ranked 22nd nationally in the NAIA.
USI vs. Cumberland:
DOUBLES: The Screaming Eagles began the weekend campaign with a slow start as the number one and number two doubles were taken by Cumberland. USI bounced back in the third match as the junior/freshman pairing of Yahor Bahdanovich (Minsk, Belarus) and Quinten Gillespie (Whiteland, Indiana) took the match 7-6 (7-3).
SINGLES: The Eagles got off to a hot start in singles, winning the first three matches for a 3-1 lead. USI grabbed the lead with wins by Lucas Sakamaki (Floyds Knobs, Indiana), 6-4 6-1, Spencer Blandford (Louisville, Kentucky) 6-4 6-1, and Bahdanovich, 7-6 (11-9) 6-3. Cumberland made a comeback, tying the match with victories at number five and number one singles. An incredible performance from Gillespie clinched the match for USI. After dropping the first set 6-3, Gillespie won the second set, 6-3, and captured the tiebreaker, 12-10, securing a USI victory, 4-3, over Cumberland.
USI vs. Rose Hulman:
DOUBLES: The Eagles swept Rose-Hulman in doubles to claim the point and get the match off to a quick 1-0 start. Wins came from number one doubles Spencer Blandford and Preston Cameron (Floyds Knobs, IN), 6-2. The number two pairing of Lucas Sakamaki and Marvin Kromer (Dogern, Germany) won their match, 6-4, while USI finished out the doubles with sweep with a win at the number three pairing of Bahdanovic and Gillespie, 6-0.
SINGLES: Similar to doubles, it was a clean sweep for the Eagles in singles action. Parker Collignon (Owensboro, KY) won 6-3 6-1 at number one, while Blandford won his match at number two, 6-0 6-2. Sakamaki won in straight sets at number three, 6-1 6-1, followed by Marvin Kromer winning, 6-1 6-2, at number four. It was a clean sweep for both number five and number six singles for USI as Cameron and Dylan Brown (Evansville, Indiana) won their matches, 6-0 6-0.
UP NEXT FOR USI: The Eagles return to the Evansville Tennis Center as they start a three-match weekend stretch on February 18 with Austin Peay State University at 3:30 p.m. USI plays host to Brescia University February 19 at 3:30 p.m., while finishing off the weekend on February 20 against Georgetown College (KY.) with a 1:45 p.m. start.
EAGLES PROJECTED TO FINISH 5TH IN GLVC EAST DIVISION:
USI Men's Tennis was projected to finish 5th in the GLVC East Division as voted on by the coaches. The Eagles follow 7th-ranked University of Indianapolis, who led with five first-place votes. USI also follows the University of Illinois-Springfield, McKendree University, and Lewis University. USI sits above both Maryville University and Lindenwood University.
The 19th-ranked Southwest Baptist University was predicted to win the West Division with four first-place votes. SBU was followed by 24th-ranked Drury University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Rockhurst University, Quincy University, and William Jewell College.
2022 GLVC MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL – EAST DIVISION
Points (1st-place votes)
1. Indianapolis 35 (5)
2. Illinois Springfield 30 (2)
3. McKendree 27
3. Lewis 20
5. Southern Indiana 14
6. Maryville 11
7. Lindenwood 10
2022 GLVC MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL – EAST DIVISION
Points (1st-place votes)
1. Southwest Baptist 24 (4)
2. Drury 22 (2)
3. Missouri-St. Louis 14
3. Rockhurst 14
5. Quincy 10
6. William Jewell 6
