PICTURED ABOVE: Matt Steiner was a winner at number-three singles and number-two doubles

Hanover Park, Ill. - The Wheaton men's tennis team edged UW-Eau Claire (14-5) on Friday night at Centre Court Athletic Club. Wheaton earned wins at number-one and number-two singles and picked wins at the top-three singles matches to narrowly earn the 5-4 victory against the Blugolds. Wheaton is now 7-6 on the season and is slated to open conference play on Tuesday when the Thunder hosts Elmhurst at 4:00 p.m.

In tonight's matchup against UW-Eau Claire, Wheaton's Justin Ancona rallied for a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 against Kyle Hoffman at number-one singles. Thunder freshman Dane Paulsen picked up a 7-5, 6-0 victory against Michael Mauthe for a win at number-two singles. Wheaton's third win in singles play came from Matt Steiner who rallied for a 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 victory against Will Weyenberg at number-three singles.

The key to the victory for the Thunder was picking up wins at number-one and number-two doubles. The Thunder tandem of Ancona and Steiner earned an 8-4 victory at number-one doubles against the Blugolds' team of Mauthe and Hoffman. Paulsen paired with Lincoln Metz for an 8-5 Wheaton victory against Andrew Dahl and Andrew Rust at number-two doubles.

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WHEATON 5, UW-EAU CLAIRE 4

Singles competition
1. Justin Ancona (WHEATON) def. Kyle Hoffmann (UWECM) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6
2. Dane Paulsen (WHEATON) def. Michael Mauthe (UWECM) 7-5, 6-0
3. Matt Steiner (WHEATON) def. Will Weyenberg (UWECM) 7-6, 3-6, 6-2
4. Daniel Schoen (UWECM) def. Lincoln Metz (WHEATON) 7-6, 7-6
5. Andrew Rust (UWECM) def. Karl Wenzel (WHEATON) 6-3, 6-1
6. Andrew Dahl (UWECM) def. Josh Cheng (WHEATON) 6-0, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Justin Ancona/Matt Steiner (WHEATON) def. Michael Mauthe/Kyle Hoffmann (UWECM) 8-4
2. Lincoln Metz/Dane Paulsen (WHEATON) def. Andrew Dahl/Andrew Rust (UWECM) 8-5
3. Jordon Stevens/Will Weyenberg (UWECM) def. Josh Cheng/Karl Wenzel (WHEATON) 8-1