Issued: February 21, 2003

MEN'S TENNIS TOPS HAMLINE 5-4

DECORAH, IOWA - The UW-Eau Claire men's tennis team took two of three doubles matches and three of the final four singles matches en route to a 5-4 victory over Hamline University here tonight at Luther College.

The Blugolds improve to 3-2 in the season and have yet to face a conference opponent. The Pipers fall to 1-3 overall on the season.

Tyler Litscher (Fr-Eau Claire/Memorial) and Ryan Gruhlke (Sr-Eau Claire/Memorial) each cruised to victories. Litscher won in the No. 3 singles spot in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 while Gruhlke won in the No. 5 singles spot 6-1, 6-2.

The Blugolds got a much needed win in the No. 6 spot from Chris Slagle (So-St. Paul, MN/Cretin-Durham Hall). After breezing through the first set with a 6-1 score, Slagle dropped the second set 3-6. The third and decisive set went down to the wire with Slagle eventually taking the set 7-5.

The Blugolds will stay in Decorah where they will face host Luther College tomorrow at noon.

Eau Claire 5, Hamline 4

Singles
No. 1 - John Schollmeier (HU) def. Matt Widder (EC) , 3-6, 6-4 (10-7)
No. 2 - Ben Krueger (HU) def. Adam Arians (EC), 2-6, 7-5 (10-6)
No. 3 - Ty Litscher (EC) def. Jon Henning (HU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 - Ben Watkins (HU) def. Andrew Kallio (EC), 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 - Ryan Gruhlke (EC) def. Mark Jacobson (HU), 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 - Chris Slagle (EC) def.Brian Niemczyk (HU), 6-1, 3-6, 7-5

Doubles
No. 1 - Matt Widder/Adam Arians (EC) def. John Schollmeier/Ben Krueger (HU), 8-3
No. 2 - Ben Watkins/Jon Henning (HU) def. Ty Litcher/Andrew Kallio (EC) , 9-7
No. 3 - Ryan Gruhlke/Chris Slagle (EC) def. Brian Niemczyk/Mark Jacobson (HU), 8-6