EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's tennis team opened its home portion of its 2013 schedule, winning twice Saturday. The Blugolds kicked off the day with a 9-0 win over the University of Dubuque (Iowa), and stayed hot in their next match against Northwestern College (Minn.), winning 8-1.
In the Blugolds' match against the Spartans, all Blugolds won their matches. In the six singles matches that they played, Eau Claire only gave up just nine games to their opponents. Both Joe Meier (Jr.-Hutchinson, Minn.), in the No. 2 singles match, and Kyle Hoffmann (Fr.-Franklin, Minn.), in the No. 6 singles match, shut out their opponents, winning 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles competition, the Blugolds had a similar performance. Eau Claire won all three of the doubles matches, and the duo of David Stingley (Sr.-St. Paul, Minn/STMA) and Brayden Parman (Jr.-Beaver Dam, Wis.), in the No. 3 doubles match won by a score of 8-0.
The Blugolds stayed in stride for their next match, which was featured later in the day against the Eagles of Northwestern College, winning 8-1.
Once again, all Blugolds won their singles matches. Ryan Vande Linde (Jr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) picked up an important win for UW-Eau Claire in the No. 1 singles match, winning by a score of 6-2, 6-1.
The Blugolds doubles won both the No. 2 and 3 matches against the Eagles. Florent Marco (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) and Hoffman led the team in the No. 2 doubles match, handling their opponents by a score of 8-1.
The two wins today were important for the Blugolds to get back on their winning pace. They are now 12-5 on the season.
Friday, the Blugolds were in Madison to face NCAA Division I opponent University of Illinois, which is ranked 19th in the nation. Using a different type of format, the Blugolds fell to Illinois 66-10 in an exhibition contest.
The Blugolds will have almost a week off until their next match, which will be played at home against St. Scholastica (Minn.) at 4 p.m. next Friday.
-BP-
