DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras College Men's Tennis team traveled to University of Dubuque Wednesday afternoon, for an Iowa Conference showdown. The Duhawks ended up losing the match by a score of 8-1, with sophomore Jason Derby winning the only match for the Duhawks at No. 4 singles in straight sets.

The Spartans controlled the doubles portion of the match, picking up wins at No. 1, 2, and 3 doubles.

At No. 1 doubles, it was senior Brian Falvey and freshman Zach Atzen who went toe-to-toe with Richard Rhinehart and Matthew Sablay, but fell 8-4. The trend continued for Dubuque at No. 2 singles as sophomores Neil Kane and Jason Derby 8-2.

For the first time this season, freshmen TJ Esporas and Shayne Marquez entered the lineup together at No. 3 doubles. The Las Vegas natives had difficulty in getting the momentum to swing in their favor, falling 8-2.

Dubuque's surge carried over into singles play, as the Spartans swiped five of six matches. The lone win for the Duhawks on the day came from Derby at No. 4 singles.

Derby lost the first game of the first set and was down early, but then went on a 4-0 run that helped him get ahead. He held onto this lead to take the first set 6-4. In the second set, Derby kept the momentum from that first set by jumping out to a 3-0 lead and he never looked back, rolling to a 6-2 win in the second set to win the match.

The Duhawks almost snatched another win from the Spartans at No. 5 singles. Kane for the Duhawks lost a heartbreaker to freshman Jordan Hamling from Dubuque. The match went to a super tiebreaker after Kane took the first set 6-4 and then Hamling pushed the match to the super tiebreaker by winning the second set 6-4. Kane fought hard in the super tiebreaker, but Hamling was too much and he took the set and match 10-8.

With the loss, Loras ends their season at 0-15 and 0-7 in the Iowa Conference.

Singles Results
1. Richard Rhinehart (DBQM) def. Brian Falvey (LORASM) 6-3, 6-3
2. Matthew Sablay (DBQM) def. Ulises Hernandez (LORASM) 6-0, 6-4
3. Nikolay Gospodinov (DBQM) def. Justin VanWambeke (LORASM) 6-4, 6-1
4. Jason Derby (LORASM) def. Ranfer Hernandez (DBQM) 6-4, 6-2
5. Jordan Hamling (DBQM) def. Neil Kane (LORASM) 4-6, 6-4, 10-8
6. Zebulon Hill (DBQM) def. Jack O'Brien (LORASM) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles Results
1. Richard Rhinehart/Matthew Sablay (DBQM) def. Brian Falvey/Zach Atzen (LORASM) 8-4
2. Nikolay Gospodinov/Ranfer Hernandez (DBQM) def. Neil Kane/Jason Derby (LORASM) 8-2
3. Jordan Hamling/Zebulon Hill (DBQM) def. TJ Esporas/Shayne Marquez (LORASM) 8-2