KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Senior Ross VanderPloeg survived a tight first set to post a match-clinching victory, and the Western Michigan men's tennis team defeated the Illinois-Chicago Flames 5-2 at West Hills Athletic Club on Friday. With the win, the Broncos improve to 2-1 on the season.

The Broncos led the Flames in the overall match 3-1, but with two other singles matches going to three sets, VanderPloeg halted the Flames' chances of a comeback with a solid second set against Alan Reifer in the No. 2 singles match. VanderPloeg and Reifer battled in a tight first set, with VanderPloeg coming out ahead 7-5; the senior co-captain picked up a break on Reifer in the second set to take it 6-3 and clinch the overall match victory for the Broncos. VanderPloeg was also part of a doubles-point clinching victory, teaming with Marc Shideler to defeat Reifer and Isaac Lloveras 8-3 in the No. 2 match.

Nadin Indre picked up the first win of the night for the Broncos, teaming with Ruben Greiner to defeat Alexander Raa and Rahul Kamath 8-3 in the No. 1 singles match. Indre also went on to beat Lloveras in the No. 1 singles match, giving the Broncos a 3-1 advantage with a 6-2, 6-3 win. Pablo Mora notched the first singles win of the night for the Broncos, rolling 6-0, 6-3 over Kamath to make it 2-0. The Flames cut the lead to one point with a win in the No. 3 singles match, but Indre and VanderPloeg notched wins to clinch the match.

Aaron Wong posted a 2-0 night for the Broncos, first teaming with freshman Stephen Payne to defeat UIC's Maurizio Feoli and Christopher Cole 8-5 in the No. 3 doubles match. Wong was victorious in singles as well, downing Cole in a full three-set effort; he bounced back from a second loss to win 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

 

Western Michigan University 5, Illinois-Chicago 2
Jan 18, 2013 at Kalamazoo, Mich. (West Hills Athletic Club)

Singles competition

1. Nadin Indre (WMU) def. Isaac Lloveras (UIC) 6-2, 6-3

2. Ross VanderPloeg (WMU) def. Alan Reifer (UIC) 7-5, 6-3

3. Alexander Raa (UIC) def. Ruben Greiner (WMU) 6-1, 6-4

4. Aaron Wong (WMU) def. Christopher Cole (UIC) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3

5. Pablo Mora (WMU) def. Rahul Kamath (UIC) 6-0, 6-3

6. Maurizio Feoli (UIC) def. Andrew Cahn (WMU) 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4

 

Doubles competition

1. Nadin Indre/Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Alexander Raa/Rahul Kamath (UIC) 8-3

2. Ross VanderPloeg/Marc Shideler (WMU) def. Alan Reifer/Isaac Lloveras (UIC) 8-3

3. Stephen Payne/Aaron Wong (WMU) def. Maurizio Feoli/Christopher Cole (UIC) 8-5

 

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,3,1,2,6,4)