MACOMB, Ill. – After splitting its first two Summit League road tests of the season against Oral Roberts and UMKC, the IUPUI men’s tennis team looked to move its conference record above .500 and did so with a 4-0 victory over South Dakota State Monday afternoon.

 

The win moved the Jags to 2-1 in conference action, while the Jackrabbits slipped to 1-5.

 

“Considering we were starting our conference season on the road against three tough opponents, I’d say we had a pretty successful weekend to have a record over .500,” said head coach Brandon Currie. “All the guys were focused and determined in their matches and we are excited to get back on the court this weekend against IPFW and Notre Dame.”

 

The top of doubles lineup picked up a pair of close wins helping the Jags jump out to a 1-0 lead.

 

 Joe Hammond and Bren Vasalakis battled for a hard-fought 9-7 win in No. 1 doubles, putting IUPUI one doubles win away from taking the one-point lead. With Hammond and Vasalakis finished, Nick Volz and Joel Modesitt took advantage of a break to win their doubles match, 8-6, securing the key point.

 

The Jags only needed three wins in singles play to register the win and picked up each of those wins immediately.

 

Ivan Mojsejev started singles play with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles and was followed by Volz, who downed Jamie Dash at the No. 2 position, 6-2, 6-1, putting IUPUI on the verge of the win.

 

With Dan Klingenberg leading 2-1 in the third set of his match and Chase Emerson and Taylor Tunis holding early leads in their singles matches, Joel Modesitt closed out the day with a 6-2, 6-4 win over SDSU’s Chris Baron.

 

Modesitt’s win clinched the win and with the outcome decided, Klingenberg’s, Emerson’s and Tunis’ matches all went unfinished.

 

The Jags will return to the court on Friday, April 1, when IUPUI welcomes in-state conference rival IPFW to West Indy Racquet Club for an important league match-up. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m.