UMSL Splits Weekend Conference Matches

Rivermen Beat Indianapolis; Fall to Northern Kentucky

St. Louis, Mo. - The UMSL men’s tennis team dropped two conference matches on Saturday, falling 5-3 to Bellarmine and losting 5-4 in a tight match against Southern Indiana.

In the morning match, the Rivermen fell behind in doubles play and couldn’t catch up in the singles matches. Bellarmine won the first doubles in a close matchup 9-8, and won the second doubles 8-2. UMSL got singles wins at the top two spots from Martin Kardos at one singles, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, and at two singles from Matt Vaulkhard, winning 6-2, 6-4.

Against Southern Indiana, UMSL again fell behind early after dropping two of the three doubles matches. Matt Vaulkhard and Stephen Pobst teamed up for an 8-2 win at three doubles, but the Rivermen dropped a tight match at one doubles 8-6. UMSL made a charge in the singles matches, getting an injury default win at three singles, and then got wins from Martin Kardos at two singles 7-5, 6-3 and at five singles from Rajan Saini 6-3, 6-2. USI would pull out the final two matches, winning both in three sets, to hold on for the 5-4 win.

UMSL will be at home during the upcoming week, hosting Quincy in a conference match on Tuesday at 3 pm, and then will host Lewis and Clark on Wednesday at 3 pm. The Rivermen will then have three big conference matches on the road next weekend, playing at SIU Edwardsville, Lewis and Saint Joseph’s.

RECAP
Bellarmine 5, Missouri-St. Louis 3
Doubles:
1. Josh Huff/Brandon Campbell (BU) def. Martin Kardos/Mike Schaaf (UMSL) 9-8
2. Phillip Merrill/Taylor Broughton (BU) def. Martin Damm/Rajan Saini (UMSL) 8-2
3. Matt Vaulkhard/Kyle Aulabaugh (UMSL) def. Drew Fairhurst/Stuart Distler (BU) 8-5
Singles:
1. Martin Kardos (UMSL) def. Phillip Merrill (BU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Matt Vaulkhard (UMSL) def. Stuart Distler (BU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Mike Schaaf (UMSL) vs. Brandon Campbell (BU) - DNF
4. Josh Huff (BU) def. Martin Damm (UMSL) 6-1, 6-4
5. Taylor Broughton (BU) def. Stephen Pobst (UMSL) 7-5, 1-6, 6-1
6. Drew Fairhurst (BU) def. Rajan Saini (UMSL) 3-6, 7-6, 6-3

Southern Indiana 5, Missouri-St. Louis 4
Doubles:
1. Daniel Halim/Paulus Halim (USI) def. Martin Kardos/Mike Schaaf (UMSL) 8-6
2. Weston Phillips/Bhavesh Chadda (USI) def. Martin Damm/Kyle Aulabaugh 8-2
3. Matt Vaulkhard/Stephen Pobst (UMSL) def. Chris McCreight/Ryan Hughes (USI) 8-2
Singles:
1. Paulus Halim (USI) Matt Vaulkhard (UMSL) 1-6, 7-6, 6-4
2. Martin Kardos (UMSL) def. Weston Phillips (USI) 7-5, 6-3
3. Mike Schaaf (UMSL) def. Ryan Hughes (USI) – Injury Default
4. Bhavesh Chadda (USI) def. Martin Damm (UMSL)
5. Rajan Saini (UMSL) def. Daniel Halim (USI) 6-3, 6-2
6. Chris McCreight (USI) def. Stephen Pobst (UMSL) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4