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

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Feb. 26, 2022) – The Loras College men's tennis team (2-6, 0-1 A-R-C) faced a pair of tough opponents on Saturday, playing a close contest against Millikin University (5-3) and opening American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) action against Coe College (4-2, 1-0 A-R-C) on the road in Cedar Rapids.

The Big Blue took a 1-0 lead in doubles play before the Duhawks responded with an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles for Sean Gelski and Nolan Teubel against Cory Erickson and Reiss Naylor. Millikin won the No. 1 match and took the lead back heading into singles play. Eian Coad started Loras off in singles action with a win, defeating Justin Caldwell 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 6 spot but Millikin pulled back ahead 4-2 with win at No. 1 and No. 3. A win for Thomas Kampmier at No. 2 singles kept Loras in the match as he defeated Theodor Wolf, 6-4, 6-4 but Millikin scored its clinching win at No. 4 to win the match, 5-4. Konnor Barth added a fourth win for Loras at No. 5, defeating Erickson 6-0, 6-0.

In their first A-R-C match of the season, the Duhawks found themselves down early in doubles play and tried to battle back in singles action. Kampmier gave Nathan Meskell a run for his money in the No. 2 match, forcing it to the tiebreaker but ultimately fell 7-6, 3-6, 2-10. Kareem Kassass also took his opponent to the tiebreaker to decide the match but fell 6-4, 1-6, 12-10 to Alex Polomar at No. 6 singles as Coe swept the match, 9-0.

The Duhawks' next match is set for Saturday, Mar. 6 in De Pere, Wis. when Loras takes on St. Norbert College.