GAME STATS Kenosha, Wis. -- The Thunder men's tennis team traveled north of the state border on Saturday afternoon to begin their conference slate against the reigning CCIW Tournament champions, the Carthage Firebirds. The hosts topped Wheaton by a score of 7-2 to snap the visitors' eight-match win streak and drop Wheaton's season record to 9-4. 

Carthage, ranked #36 in the country in this week's ITA Division III national poll, swept the doubles matches today to take one step towards a key conference victory. 

Wheaton got its first point on Saturday courtesy of Joey Geisz, who took the first set of his #3 singles contest at 6-4 and eventually won an extended 14-12 tiebreak game to claim the win. Michael Walmer accounted for the Thunder's second point this afternoon, also emerging victorious via a tiebreak at 7-6, 2-6 [10-7]. But these match wins were not enough for the visitors to topple their strong Wisconsin opponents.

The Thunder will try to get back in the win column on Wednesday afternoon when they travel to Elmhurst for their second CCIW matchup.