HILTON HEAD, S.C. – The West Liberty University men's tennis team dropped its first match of the season here late Monday night, falling to Lewis (Ill.) by a 4-1 count in a match shortened by darkness at the Hilton Head Spring Break event.
Coach Ron Hulewicz's Hilltoppers (7-1) surrendered the doubles point with losses at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles and couldn't claw their way back in singles play.
Isfan Makhumudov pulled out a tiebreaker win for West Liberty at No. 4 singles and the Black and Gold jumped out to early leads at No. 5 and No. 6 singles but it was to no avail.
The Illinois squad swept the first three singles matches to clinch the win, locking up the victory with a hard-fought tiebreaker decision at No. 1 singles.
Coach Hulewicz and the Hilltoppers will try to rebound on Tuesday against Barton (N.C.).
MEN'S TENNIS
Lewis (Ill.) 4, West Liberty 1
(match called due to darkness)
Doubles
Mejia/Ambrose (LU) d. Dux/Schulz (WLU), 6-2
Lusti/Trifunovic (LU) vs. Erpel/Gerndt (WLU), 5-4
Wierzbicki/Zoranovic (LU) d. Makhumudov/Roehner (WLU), 6-3
Singles
Mejia (LU) d. Erpel (WLU), 6-3 3-6 10-6
Lusti (LU) d. Schulz (WLU), 6-1 6-2
Ambrozic (LU) d. Gerndt (WLU), 6-2 6-4
Makhumudov (WLU) d. Trifunovic (LU), 6-4 3-6 10-7
Dux (WLU) vs. Wierzbicki (LU), 6-4 4-2
Jones (WLU) vs. Zoranovic (LU), 7-6 0-0
