PICTURED ABOVE: Derek Mumaw won the descisive fifth match to give Wheaton a 5-4 win against UW-Eau Claire on Friday.

Eau Claire, Wis. - The Thunder men's tennis team opened its 2015 season on Friday night with a 5-4 victory at UW-Eau Claire. 

The Blugolds won all three doubles matches to take and early 3-0 lead in the match and the first singles match to be completed was a UW-Eau Claire victory at number-four singles to give the hosts a 4-0 lead.

Thunder senior Josh Ward picked up a 6-0, 6-3 win against Kyle Hoffman at number-one singles to spark a furious Thunder rally. Justin Ancona won a 6-1, 6-3 decision against Will Wyenberg at number-two singles to cut the hosts' lead to 4-2. Wheaton's Matt Steiner earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Andrew Rust at number-three singles. Karl Wenzel was a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) winner at number-five singles to tie the match score at 4-4. Senior Derek Mumaw completed the rally with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory against Andrew Dahl at number-six singles to give the Thunder the 5-4 win.

The Thunder will return to action on February 14 with matches in Chicago against University of Chicago and Oberlin.

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WHEATON COLLEGE 5, UW-EAU CLAIRE 4

Singles competition
1. Ward, Josh  (WHEATON) def. Hoffman, Kyle (UWEC) 6-0, 6-3
2. Ancona, Justin (WHEATON) Weyenberg, Will (UWEC) 6-1, 6-3
3. Steiner, Matt (WHEATON) def. Rust, Andrew (UWEC) 6-4, 6-4
4. Mauthe, Michael (UWEC) def. Metz, Lincoln (WHEATON) 6-1, 6-2
5. Wenzel, Karl (WHEATON) def. Felten, Conrad (UWEC) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Mumaw, Derek (WHEATON) def. Dahl, Andrew (UWEC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Hoffman, Kyle/Dahl, Andrew (UWEC) def. Ancona, Josh/Ward, Josh (WHEATON) 8-4
2. Wyenberg, Will/Rust, Andrew (UWEC) def. Steiner, Matt/Westergren, Brent (WHEATON) 8-4
3. Stevens, Jordon/Mauthe, Michael (UWEC) def. Wenzel, Karl/Metz/Lincoln (WHEATON) 8-1