Wheaton, Ill. -- The Thunder men's tennis team hosted the second of three consecutive home matches in CCIW play on Thursday evening, as Wheaton faced off against the Millikin Big Blue on campus. The visitors from the south triumphed by the slimmest possible margin at a 5-4 scoreline to deny Wheaton its third conference match win of the season. The Thunder fall to 9-7 on the year and a 2-2 mark in CCIW competition as a result of Thursday's home defeat.

Millikin earned two wins from the three doubles matchups to begin the contest, including an 8-7 tiebreak that would eventually prove critical to the final outcome. But Joey Geisz and Jacob Williams continued their purple patch at the #2 slot to prevent the guests from earning a clean sweep with an 8-5 result. 

The Big Blue secured the win thanks to individual victories in the first three singles pairings. But Wheaton made things competitive by besting their opponents at #4, #5, and #6 singles. Jack Wenzel took his #4 singles match courtesy of two 6-4 set wins, before Joey Geisz saw off his #5 rival with a first set bagel and a gritty 7-6 win in the following frame. Corin Tang followed suit, winning the first set of his #6 singles showdown at a comfortable margin before digging deep to take the second frame at 7-5.

Wheaton will look to regain its winning record in conference action when the team plays their rearranged home match against Elmhurst on Monday afternoon.