The men’s tennis team lost two tough matches to Southern Illinois and Memphis this past week, dropping their overall record to 5-10 on the season.  The Billikens lost to Southern Illinois 2-5 and to Memphis 0-7.

Against Southern Illinios, only junior Drew Feder and sophomore Patrick Kella were able to record victories for the Billikens.

Feder took down SIU’s Orhan Spahic 6-3, 6-0 and Kella won against SIU’s Szymon Opieczonek 6-1, 6-3.

Against Memphis, no Billiken was able to beat their Tiger opponent.

Sophomore Joe Flanagan had the most competitive match, losing 6-3, 6-3, and freshman Yehia El Sallaly lost 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). With the win, Memphis improved to No. 30 overall in the nation with a 14-3 record.

On the women’s side, the Billikens lost another match to Southern Illinois. 4-3.

This drops their overall record to a respectable 8-7 on the season.  SLU kept it competitive, but the Salukis proved too tough, winning two out of the three doubles matches and three of the six singles matches.

Junior Mia Elmore continued to shine for the Billikens as she won her singles match (6-1, 7-5) and also her doubles match with senior Jenny Nalepa (8-4).

Sophomore Stephanie Hollis (6-4, 6-0) and freshman standout Brooke Urzendowski (6-4, 6-4) also recorded straight-set wins for the Billikens.

“This match was a heartbreaker for us,” Head Coach Jon Zych said. “Maria competed great, and her match could have gone either way. I’m proud of her fight and toughness. All the girls played better attacking doubles.”

“Overall, we have no excuses. It was a great four-and-a-half-hour college tennis match,” he said,

Next up for the men is a meet in DeKalb, Ill., to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The women’s team is staying at hope and will play Memphis at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center on Friday at 2 p.m.