DREW SHRADEL STAFF WRITER
The Wartburg men’s tennis team lost to the University of Wisconsin La Crosse and the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh in La Crosse, Wis. on Saturday.
They lost to La Crosse 7-2 and Oshkosh 6-3.
In the match against UW-Oshkosh, Mitch Eslick picked up the lone singles win for the Knights. Eslick defeated James Lewison 7-5 and 7-5. Tom Koenen fell to Nate Kilsdonk 7-6 and 6-3. Chris Buckingham went three sets in his match with Dustin Blackburn, but lost 6-7, 6-4 and 10-1.
Andrew Kahler also went three sets in his match against Robbie Price, but lost 7-5, 4-6 and 10-7.
In doubles competition, Eslick and Koenen won over Lewison and Kilsdonk, 8-5. Chris Buckingham and Brian Rasmussen won the other doubles match for the Knights, defeating Adam Kasper and Eric Hoffmann 9-8 (8-5 tiebreaker).
In the match against UW - La Crosse, Eslick and Koenen picked up the lone wins for the Knights. Eslick defeated Nick Piotrowski 6-1, 6-7 and 10-7. Koenen also won his match in three sets, 7-5, 3-6 and 10-8.
The team fell to the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire on Friday, 8-1.
The Knights fell in all of their singles matches, while Eslick and Koenen picked up their only doubles win yet again.
Eslick lost in his singles match to UW - Eau Claire 5-7, 6-2, 10-4. Eslick’s doubles partner Koenen took his match into extra sets but fell to his opponent Lars Olson 4-6, 7-5,10-6.
In doubles, Eslick and Koenen defeated Phil Loprinzi and Chris Kuna 8-6.
The doubles pairing of Kahler and James Nguyen was shut out 8-0 by the pairing of Kevin Fawcett and Lars Olson, and the pairing of Buckingham and Rasmussen fell to the UW- Eau Claire pairing of Eric Wollum and Dirk Van Rybroek.
The Knights are now 7-14 overall and 3-3 in the conference.
The Knights are still in tournament contention, but two spots have been secured by top ranked Luther 6-0 in the IIAC and second place Coe 5-1 in the IIAC.
The Knights will be back in action for a make up match on Tuesday at home against Simpson, The meet is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.