For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

April 1, 2008

Red Devils post 1-3 mark in St. Louis to start season

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Eureka men's tennis team had a busy start to the season with four matches in two days, all against conference opponents.  The Red Devils defeated Fontbonne University 8-1 on Friday after dropping an 8-1 decision to Maryville University earlier in the day.  Eureka came out the following day on the short end versus Westminster College (7-2) and Webster (8-1).

In the Red Devils' victory over Fontbonne, Jake Etscheid (Peru, Ill./LaSalle-Peru), Aaron Phelan (Eureka, Ill./HS) and Elby Cox (Morton, Ill./HS) each picked up their first career singles wins, while Gordon Barkley (Peoria Heights, Ill./HS) was victorious 8-0 in a No. 2 doubles match with Etscheid for his first career win.

Aaron Rapp (Normal, Ill./Normal West) and Patrick Howard (Peoria, Ill./HS), who both won two matches against Fontbonne, had strong performances on Saturday as well.  Rapp defeated the 2007 SLIAC #1 singles champion, Myles Yokeley of Westminster, in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.  He also paired up with Howard to beat the top doubles team from Westminster 8-6.

Although Howard lost a close match at No. 2 singles (6-4, 7-5) to Andrew Darkow of Westminster, he recovered to win 6-4, 6-2 over Zach Papes of Maryville in what was his fourth match in two days.

Eureka's first home match of the season scheduled for Tuesday, April 1 versus Principia has been postponed.  The next opponent on the Red Devils' schedule is Dominican University.  That match is set for 3:30 pm Tuesday, April 8 in River Forest.

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For More Information Contact:

Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu