Related Links:Northern Illinois Box ScoreIllinois-Chicago Box Score The No. 25 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's tennis team opened the 2015 spring season Friday with a pair of dual matches against Division I foes at Boylan Tennis Center in Rockford, Ill.
The Warhawks (0-2 overall) suffered a 7-0 loss against Northern Illinois before being edged by Illinois-Chicago in the nightcap, 4-3.
Against Illinois-Chicago (1-3), UW-Whitewater took two of the three doubles matches to earn the coveted, match-opening doubles point. Senior
Ben Shklyar (Deerfield, IL/Deerfield) and junior
Michael Treis (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) posted a 7-6 (5) victory at the No. 1 slot to clinch the point. Sophomores
Martin Beck (Minneapolis/South) and
Scott Butler (Eagan, MN/Eagan) registered a 7-6 (5) triumph at No. 3.
Treis carried the momentum into singles play, earning a 6-1, 6-2 win at the second position. Junior
Jake Humphreys (Kenosha/Tremper) tallied the Warhawks' other point with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph at the top spot.
In the match against Northern Illinois (1-1), Shklyar and Treis pushed their doubles match at the No. 2 slot to a tiebreaker and prevailed, 7-6 (4). The Huskies won the remaining two matches to earn the doubles point.
In singles play, UW-Whitewater forced tiebreakers in sets at the first, third and fourth positions. Senior captain
Cam Laktash (Crystal Lake, IL/South) forced a third set at No. 4, but came up just shy in a 6-0, 6-7 (4), 1-0 (10-3) setback.
The Warhawks return to action Sunday, Feb. 1, at UW-Green Bay. UW-Whitewater is scheduled to take on UW-Green Bay at 9 a.m. and Cardinal Stritch at 3 p.m. at Western Racquet Club.
