Sept. 25, 2004

Peoria, Ill.- The University of Illinois at Chicago men's tennis team began their quest for a Horizon League title on Friday, opening the fall slate with an outstanding day at the annual Bradley Invitational in Peoria.

The Flames, featuring four returnees and three newcomers, went perfect in singles play, winning all six of their matches, while taking three doubles victories.

Karol Zarucki resumed his 2004 role as a top doubles player by teaming with newcomer Ivan Kovalev, a transfer from Lousiana-Lafayette, to lead the team with two doubles wins. The duo downed Dayton's Tom Murphy and James O'Connell by an 8-3 count, then went on to defeat UIC teammate Eric Fey and Bradley's Scott Roebuck, who were paired in a combined team bracket, for an 8-4 win.

Fey, a freshman out of St. Charles, Ill., made a strogn singles debut, winning his first collegiate match with a 6-4, 7-5 decision over Valpo's Mike Shideler.

Andy Lockhart, a Hinsdale native who transferred from Purdue, won his singles debut for the Flames with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Bradley's Paul Craigen. Lockhart also chipped in a doubles win.

Paul Glendenning and Sean Kreymborg chalked up singles victories, while senior James Wonneberg made a triumphant return after missing the entire 2003-04 season due to injury, winning a doubles match with Lockhart.

UIC returns to action tomorrow for the second day of the Bradley Invitational.

2004 Bradley Invitational Day One Results

Doubles Flight - First Round
Dayton 2, UIC 1
Karol Zarucki/Ivan Kovalev (UIC) def. Tom Murphy/James O'Connell (DU) 8-3
Rob Altenau/Jonathan Khoury (DU) def. Paul Glendenning/Sean Kreymborg (UIC) 8-3
Jamison Downs/Rex Cabrera (DU) def. James Wonneberg/Andy Lockhart (UIC) 9-8 (7-1)

Combined Team Doubles Action - First Round
Ben Dunham-Freer/Shabbi Kahn (Valparaiso) def. Eric Fey (UIC)/Scott Roebuck (Bradley) 8-3

Doubles Flight - Second Round
UIC 2, Combined Team 1
Karol Zarucki/Ivan Kovalev (UIC) def. Eric Fey (UIC)/Scott Roebuck (Bradley) 8-4
Andy Lockhart/James Wonneberg (UIC) def. Chiou (UMKC)/Eric Roller (Valparaiso) 8-1
Eric Hines (UW-Green Bay)/Oaks (Dayton) def. Paul Glendenning/Sean Kreymborg (UIC) 8-6

Singles Flight A - First Round
UIC 3, UW-Green Bay 0
Ivan Kovalev (UIC) def. Tyler Dorn (UWGB) 6-4, 7-6
Karol Zarucki (UIC) def. Jarett Cascino (UWGB) 6-4, 7-6
Paul Glendenning (UIC) def. Mark Goldin (UWGB) 6-1, 4-6, 10-2

Singles Flight B - First Round
UIC 3, Combined Team 0
Andy Lockhart (UIC) def. Paul Craigen (Bradley) 6-2, 6-2
Sean Kreymborg (UIC) def. Tim Prudlow (UWGB) 6-3, 6-4
Eric Fey (UIC) def. Mike Shideler (Valparaiso) 6-4, 7-5