Box Score

WHEATON, Ill. – The Elmhurst men's tennis team opened up CCIW play with a 7-2 loss to Wheaton.

The Thunder (8-6, 1-0 CCIW) took the top two doubles spots and five of the six singles matches in taking the CCIW opener for both squads.

Wheaton took the first two doubles decisions to jump out in front. The Thunder tandem of Justin Ancona and Matt Steiner defeated Chris Harrison and Quinn Jennings 8-1 at No. 1 and Lincoln Metz and Dane Paulsen won 8-3 over Kyle Endicott and Justin Delawder. Elmhurst's Ricardo Franco and Alex Abbuhl salvaged a point by earning an 8-6 victory over Karl Wenzel and Josh Cheng at No. 3.

Jennings earned the only Bluejay singles victory defeating Paulsen 6-4, 4-6, 10-6. In the process, Jennings became just the third loss of the spring for Paulsen who has wins over No. 16 UW-Whitewater as well as regionally-ranked opponents Luther, Grinnell, Kalamazoo, and UW Eau Claire.

Wheaton earned three quick singles victories to seal the team match. Cheng took out Delawder 6-0, 6-2 at No. 6, Ancona won at the top spot over Harrison 6-0, 6-2, and Steiner finished off a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Abbuhl. Ricardo Franco brought his second set to a tiebreak, but fell 6-0, 7-6(8) to Wenzel at No. 5 and Endicott dropped a tight 7-6(2), 6-3 result to Metz.

Elmhurst (2-9, 0-1 CCIW) continues CCIW play with a matchup against Illinois Wesleyan Friday, April 15 at 3:30 p.m.