MACON, Ga. – Indiana Wesleyan University men’s tennis suffered the first defeat of the season in a 5-3 battle at No. 11 Middle Georgia State. The loss ends the 18-match win streak to start the season for the Wildcats.

MATCH VITALS

• Score:  Middle Georgia State def. Indiana Wesleyan, 5-3
• Records:  Indiana Wesleyan 18-1   |   Middle Georgia State 4-1
• NAIA Top- 25 Rank:  Indiana Wesleyan - No. 25 (tie)   |   Middle Georgia State – No. 11
• Location:   John Drew Smith Tennis Center   |   Middle Georgia State University   |   Macon, Georgia

DOUBLES

• No. 1:  Riebello/Prada (MGS) def. Eli Steiner/Grant Yager (IWU) 9-7
• No. 2:  Gavin White/Jacob Rankin (IWU) def. Tamola/Conesa (MGS) 8-4
• No. 3:  Joel Montgomery/Austin Christner (IWU) def. Otero/Peret (MGS) 8-3

SINGLES

• No. 1:  Nishanth Riebello (MGS) def. Eli Steiner (IWU) 6-0, 6-3
• No. 2:  Octavio Tamola (MGS) def. Gavin White (IWU) 6-2, 6-0
• No. 3:  Joel Montgomery (IWU) def. Masao Peret (MGS) 6-4, 7-5
• No. 4:  Alvaro Conesa (MGS) def. Jacob Rankin (IWU)4-6, 6-2, 6-0
• No. 5:  Austin Christner (IWU) vs. Alejandro Prada (MGS) 5-7, 4-4 (unfinished)
• No. 6:  Santino Romeo (MGS) def. Tyler Abbott (IWU) 6-4, 6-2
   

COACH SHIGLEY SAYS…

• “The guys started off real strong in doubles taking a 2-1 lead against the No. 11 team. We even had a few opportunities to go up 3-0. Middle Georgia State has a really strong lineup from top to bottom and they were able to take the match 5-3. Joel Montgomery played fantastic and won our only singles point. Austin Christner was still out on the court battling when the match was clinched by Middle Georgia State. Really proud of how the guys played against a great team and an emotionally charged match. This is our first day to play outdoors and we will only get better.”
   

UP NEXT FOR MEN’S TENNIS

• Indiana Wesleyan plays two more ranked teams on Saturday at the Middle Georgia State Invitational in Macon, Georgia. IWU battles No. 15 Coastal Georgia at 10 a.m. and No. 19 Cumberland (Tenn.) at 3 p.m.