Men's Tennis Opens Spring Break With Two Wins

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Posted: Monday, March 16, 2009

HILTON HEAD, S.C. - In its first day of competition on its spring break trip, the UW-Eau Claire men's tennis team recorded two victories, a 9-0 triumph over St. Michael's College (Vt.) and an 8-1 win over Spring Arbor (Mich.) later in the day.

The Blugolds improve to 12-5 on the season.

Against St. Michael's, the Blugolds gave up only 18 points in nine matches. Lars Olson (So.-De Pere, Wis.) allowed only one point on his way to winning at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-1. Kevin Fawcett (Jr.-Madison, Wis./Verona) and Chris Thornton (So.-St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) both won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Steve Lantz (Sr.-Rochester, Minn./Century) and Phil Loprinzi (Jr.-Rochester, Minn./Mayo) won by scores of 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Dirk Van Rybroek (Fr.-Madison, Wis./Edgewood) won at No. 5 with scores of 6-3, 6-1. All three Blugold double teams won with scores of 8-1.

In their second match of the day against Spring Arbor, the Blugolds won all matches except at No. 1 singles. Van Rybroek swept his opponent in straight sets with scores of 6-0, 6-0. Loprinzi allowed only one point at No. 2 and won 6-0, 6-1. Fawcett and Eric Wollum (So.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) won at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, with scores of 6-2, 6-0. Chris Kuna (Fr.-Edina, Minn.) recorded scores of 6-3, 6-1 on his way to winning No. 3 singles. In doubles competition, Aaron Johnson (So.-Andover, Minn./Elk River) and Mike Olson (So.-Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) won 8-2 at No. 3 while Lars Olson and Kuna won with the same score at No. 2. Lantz and Loprinzi gave up only one point in an 8-1 win in the No. 1 spot.

The Blugolds will be back on the courts tomorrow for two more matches. They will face Hobart College (N.Y.) at 10:30 a.m. and will wrap up the day against Messiah College (Pa.) at 3 p.m.

Eau Claire-St. Michael's Box Score

Eau Claire-Spring Arbor Box Score

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