Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

Box Score

GALESBURG, Ill. (Feb. 16, 2020) – The Loras College men's tennis team wrapped up opening weekend of the spring season with a win against Knox College on Sunday as the Duhawks defeated the Prairie Fire, 6-3.

Brett Batkoff and Sam Brickley scored an 8-0 sweep at No. 3 doubles against Dobbin Pine and Eric Xu, but the Duhawks had work to do going into singles play down 2-1. A 6-2, 6-1 win for Joe Schneider at No. 3 singles against Brad Newland tied the match 2-2 and Sean Gelski gave Loras the lead at No. 4 singles after defeating Jared Schwarz 6-1, 6-4.

Knox tied the score 3-3 with a win at No. 1 singles, but Batkoff put the Duhawks back in the driver's seat with a win against Xu at No. 6 singles (6-1, 6-0). Eian Coad won his match at No. 2 singles by retirement and at No. 5 singles, Michael Runde and Knox's Pine battled to take the match to a tiebreaker. Runde won the first set 6-4 before Pine won the second 6-2, but it was the senior from Loras who emerged victorious with a 7-6 final set win to seal the match for the Duhawks.

Loras returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 22, traveling to Green Bay, Wis. to face St. Norbert College at 9:00 A.M.