Oct. 13, 2001

Hinsdale, Ill. - University of Illinois at Chicago Men's Tennis Coach Hans Neufeld couldn't have been more pleased as he walked off the courts on Saturday evening at the Hinsdale Racquet Club.

The first-year head coach had just watched his Flames (1-0) show a collective toughness and swagger in their dual match season opener that paced them to a 5-2 triumph over Western Illinois, handing Neufeld his first career head coaching victory.

"I'm really pleased," Neufeld said after the match. "We set the tone in doubles play. All three teams kept the pressure on the whole match. Everyone was in a hardworking mode.

"In singles, we got down in the No. 1 and No. 2 matches, but turned it around and won both in straight sets. Ken Howrey, a freshman, then stepped up in the No. 3 match and pulled out a big win for us. Wil (Karydakis) then fought back from a set down to win in a tie breaker to finish the day."

In doubles action, the Flames secured the first point of the match as they swept all three contests. The duo of Nick Bodmer and Jon Schmidt won the No. 1 contest, 8-4, while Amol Desai and Wade Clark (No. 2) followed with a 8-5 triumph before Howrey and Karydakis (No. 3) finished things off with a 8-4 victory.

Bodmer then led the charge in singles play, battling back from an early first-set deficit to post a 7-5, 6-5 win in the No. 1 singles match over the Leatherneck's Sean Moran for a 2-0 UIC advantage.

Schmidt followed by closing out Matt Kinst in the No. 2 single fray (6-4, 6-4). Then Howrey, who moved up a spot to compete at No. 3, secured the victory for the Flames with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Doug McClue.

UIC would get its final point of the day behind the racket of Karydakis, who battled back after dropping the first set to win the No. 6 singles match in a tie-breaker, 2-6, 6-3, (10-2).

The Flames two lone defeats were also tough matches as Wade Clark fell 7-6, 6-1 at No. 4 singles while Amol Desai dropped a 6-3, 3-6, (10-6) tie-breaker decision in the No. 5 contest.

Saturday's contest with Western Illinois was supposed to be the second of a two-team twin bill for UIC on Saturday, but the Flames morning contest with Chicago State was postponed due to rain. That match will be made up on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 3:00 p.m., at Chicago State.