April 25, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - The UIC men's tennis team will play for their first Horizon League title on Sunday after defeating Butler, 4-0 in the tournament semifinals on Saturday morning.

The Flames (14-7) won at first and third doubles with ease, as All-League selections Sebastian Lystad and George Hudson defeated the Bulldog's No. 1 team of Bryce Warren and Zach Ervin, 8-5.

Freshman duo Dave Robare and Nate Kirk downed Chris Herron and Bradon Bayliss, 8-4 to move the match on to singles play due to the tournament format.

Upon moving on to singles, Lystad, Bastian Harbo and Hudson took the singles matches in straight sets, as Lystad defeated Ben Raynauld, 6-1, 6-2, Harbo was victorious over Warren, 6-4, 6-0 and Hudson defeated Herron, 6-3, 6-2.

Adriano Liccardo, Robare and Kirk were all leading their matches at the fourth, fifth and sixth positions when the match was called in the Flames favor.

UIC will face Cleveland State, who defeated Green Bay, 4-0 earlier this afternoon, in the championship finals on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The Flames narrowly fell to the Vikings, 4-3, when they met during the regular season for their only league loss in 2009.

UIC 4, Butler 0
Doubles
1. Sebastian Lystad/George Hudson (UIC) def. Bryce Warren/Zah Ervin (BU) 8-5
2. Bastian Harbo/Danny Wilson (UIC) vs. Ben Raynauld/Lenz Teodor (BU) DNF (Butler led, 5-4)
3. Dave Robare/Nate Kirk (UIC) def. Chris Herron/Brandon Bayliss (BU) 8-4

Singles
1. Sebastian Lystad (UIC) def. Ben Raynauld (BU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Bastian Harbo (UIC) def. Bryce Warren (BU) 6-4, 6-0
3. George Hudson (UIC) def. Chris Herron (BU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Adriano Liccardo (UIC) vs. Brandon Bayliss (BU) DNF (UIC led 6-4, 4-1)
5. Dave Robare (UIC) vs. Zach Ervin (BU) DNF (UIC led 6-4, 3-2)
6. Nate Kirk (UIC) vs. Lenz Theodor (BU) DNF (UIC led 6-2, 4-1)