FORT WAYNE, Ind. - For the first time since moving to NCAA the Trine University tennis teams opened their season in the fall, as they split their matches with Indiana Tech with the women winning 7-2 while the men fell 8-1.
On the women’s side, Trine defeated the Warriors for the second straight season. Sophomore Erin Kwaske (Jackson, Mich./Western) turned in the Thunder’s top performance in the third singles position, shutting out her opponent 6-0, 6-0. In the top singles match, All-MIAA player Jessica Huhnke (Newburgh, Ind./Castle), a junior, took her match 6-3, 6-3. In the fifth and sixth positions seniors Susan Breinling (Fremont, Mich./Faith Christian) and Kaylynne Goeglein (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) won by near identical scores of 6-2, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-2 respectively. Trine’s other singles win came in the fourth position as junior Lauren Schlueter (Akron, Ohio/Revere) won 6-3, 6-0. The only singles loss came in the second match as junior Chrissy Uphaus (Centerville, Ind./Centerville) fell 6-2, 6-1.
In doubles action, the Thunder took two of the three matches. Schlueter and Willmann won at second doubles 8-3 while Kwaske and freshman Alexis Mack won in a sweep in the third position 8-0. The team of Huhnke and Uphaus dropped the number one doubles match 8-3.
The men’s team only win came at the top singles spot as freshman Caleb Knust defeated Fernando Gonzalez 7-5, 7-6 (3-0). Sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) nearly held off his opponent at the sixth singles, falling 6-7 (0-4), 6-3, 10-8. Senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) fell just short in the number three singles match, 6-4, 6-3. Junior Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) fell in the third singles match 6-0, 6-2 while sophomore Joe Clark dropped his fourth singles match 6-2, 6-4. Senior Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) fell in the final singles match, the fifth singles, 6-0, 6-1.
The Thunder were swept in their doubles matches as Desper and Knust had the closest match in the number one spot, falling 8-6. In the number two position Dunbar and Richardson fell 8-4 while Derby and freshman Tony Walterman fell in the third position 8-0.
The women’s team will next compete in the two-day MIAA flighted tournament beginning September 21 while the men will travel to Indiana Wesleyan on September 20 for a 4:00 p.m. match.