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April 26, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.- Sunday's Horizon League Men's Tennis Championship final between UIC and Cleveland State came down to a thrilling three-set No. 1 singles match, but unfortunately for the Flames that exciting match-clinching contest, along with a 4-3 title-deciding result, went in favor of the Vikings at Indianapolis' North Central High School Tennis Complex.

The Flames finished the 2009 season 14-8 overall, advancing to the Horizon League final for the fifth consecutive season.

With the dual match even at 3-3, both teams' top players, Sebastian Lystad and Phil Orno, were engaged in a tight singles bout. Lystad came away with an exciting first-set win that required a tie-breaker, eventually winning the match 7-6(5). Orno responded with a 6-3 win in the second set, forcing a third and final frame that would decide the league title.

Lystad did his best to bring UIC's first-ever league men's tennis title home to the Windy City, but Orno emerged victorious with a 6-3 victory.

Cleveland State had taken the early lead in the match as a result of winning the double point. Paired play was hotly contested, as the Vikings won at No. 2 doubles by an 8-6 score before their No. 1 doubles tandem of Orno and Ryan Hamning clinched the point by an 8-5 tally over Lystad and George Hudson. UIC's No. 3 doubles team of Nate Kirk and Dave Robare were in a barn-burner against Rob Fox and Steve Wipprecht, a match that was square at 7-7 before Cleveland State's No. 1 doubles victory cemented the point.

Singles play was equally enthralling. Kirk and Robare came away with straight-set singles decisions, while Bastian Harbo had a see-saw battle on his hands against Hamning at No. 2 singles before finally walking away with a three-set 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) win.

Hudson won the first clip of his match against Rob West at the third slot, but West rallied for a 6-3 win in the second set to force a third, which went in West's favor by a 6-2 count.

Adriano Liccardo went toe-to-toe with Tannick Goossens at the fourth spot, but Liccardo was on the wrong end of a spirited 7-6(5), 6-4 slobberknocker.

Cleveland State 4, UIC 3
2009 Horizon League Men's Tennis Championship Match
Indianapolis, Ind.
April 25, 2009

Singles
1. Phil Orno (CSU) def. Sebastian Lystad (UIC) 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3
2. Bastian Harbo (UIC) def. Ryan Hamning (CSU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4)
3. Rob West (CSU) def. George Hudson (UIC) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Yannick Goossens (CSU) def. Adriano Liccardo (UIC) 7-6 (5), 6-4
5. Dave Robare (UIC) def. Rob Fox (CSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Nate Kirk (UIC) def. Steve Wipprecht (CSU) 7-6(5), 6-3

Doubles
1. Orno/Hamning (CSU) def. Lystad/Hudson (UIC) 8-5
2. West/Goossens (CSU) def. Harbo/Danny Wilson (UIC) 8-6
3. Robare/Kirk (UIC) vs. Fox/Wipprecht (CSU) DNF 7-7

UIC Flames Men's Tennis

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