WHEATON, Ill. - The Elmhurst men's tennis team defeated Wheaton College 5-4 in a four-and-a-half hour marathon contest to remain unbeaten in the CCIW.

Elmhurst, ranked 15th in the latest ITA Central Regional poll, improved to 12-4 overall and 5-0 in the CCIW while Wheaton, ranked 11th in the latest ITA Central Regional poll fell to 15-4 overall and 3-1 in league play.

Elmhurst opened the competition by taking two of the three doubles matches. Will Jung and Alex Harbert combined to edge Wheaton's Ryan Kreis and Josh Ward 9-8 at No. 1 doubles. Chris Harrison and Luke Tanaka toppled Justin Ancona and Matt Steiner 8-5 at No. 2 doubles. Derek Mumaw and David Buursma toppled Elmhurst's Vincent McPherson and Quinn Jennings 8-3 at No. 2 doubles to score a point for the Thunder.

In singles play, Kreis stopped Jung 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, but Harbert followed with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Ancona at No. 2 singles. Ward defeated McPherson 6-4, 6-2 at No. 3 singles but Tanaka dispatched Steiner 7-5, 6-1 at No. 4 singles for the Bluejays. Buursma narrowly edged Jennings in three sets (6-1, 6-7, 7-6) at No 5 singles. Harrison closed out singles play for Elmhurst by downing Mumaw 6-2, 6-0.

Elmhurst hosts Augustana College on Saturday, April 26. The Bluejays can clinch the #1 seed in the CCIW Tournament with a victory.