MARION, Ind. - Indiana Wesleyan men's tennis played two matches on Saturday to begin the 2023 fall season. In the morning, the Wildcats moved to 1-0 with a convincing 7-0 win in their conference opener against St. Francis. IWU was missing three starters and still was able to pull off the sweep. The red and gray dominated at both No. 1 (Steiner/Gray, 6-0) and No. 2 doubles (Jonnson/Bengston 6-1) to win the doubles point. In singles, no Wildcat gave up more than 3 games in a set. Freshmen Isaiah Hostetler picked up his first collegiate singles win in his first match, winning at No. 5 singles (6-1, 6-1) and Edvin Jonnson did the same at No. 2 singles (6-1, 6-0). It was a solid performance up and down the line.

In the afternoon match, the Wildcats lost a tough match short-handed 4-3 to DePauw University. The team where without 3 starters, but fought valiantly only to come up short in the end. DePauw played really well at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to pick up the doubles point and put the pressure on. Down 1-0, Freshman sensation Edvin Jonnson tied the match 1-1 with a 6-0, 7-6 win. IWU went ahead 2-1 when Isaac Steiner won a tough three-setter, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. With the match tied 2-2, Ethan Gray battled through to win 7-5, 4-6, 6-1. Sadly, the men lost the last two matches in three sets.

The Wildcat's finish the day with an overall record of 1-1.


 

MATCH 1 VITALS

 

• Score: IWU def. Saint Francis, 7-0
• Records: IWU 1-0 I USF 0-1
• Location: Fort Wayne, Ind.

 

DOUBLES

 

• No. 1: Isaac Steiner/Ethan Gray (IWU) def. Stavnheim/Spears (USF) 6-1
• No. 2: Edvin Jonnson/Lennart Bengtsson (IWU) def. Bozonnet/Pena (USF) 6-0
• No. 3: Maurant/McCaffrey (USF) def. Riley Fuqua/Isaiah Hostetler (IWU) 6-2

 

SINGLES

 

• No. 1: Isaac Steiner (IWU) def. Stavnheim (USF) 6-2, 6-1
• No. 2: Edvin Jonnson (IWU) def. McCaffrey (USF) 6-1, 6-0
• No. 3: Lennart Bengtsson (IWU) def. Spears (USF) 6-1, 6-1
• No. 4: Ethan Gray (IWU) def. Maurant (USF) 6-3, 6-1
• No. 5: Isaiah Hostetler (IWU) def. Bozonnet (USF) 6-1, 6-1
• No. 6: Riley Fuqua (IWU) def. Pena (USF) 6-2, 6-2

 

MATCH 2 VITALS

 

• Score: DePauw def. IWU, 4-3
• Records: IWU 1-1 I DU 1-0
• Location: Marion, Ind.

 

DOUBLES

 

• No. 1: McCook/Mosher (DU) def. Isaac Steiner/Ethan Gray (IWU) 6-1
• No. 2: Edvin Jonnson/Lennart Bengtsson (IWU) def. Warren/Pia (DU) 7-6
• No. 3: Hutchinson/Crow (DU) def. Riley Fuqua/Isaiah Hostetler (IWU) 6-0

 

SINGLES

 

• No. 1: Isaac Steiner (IWU) def. Stavnheim (DU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
• No. 2: Edvin Jonnson (IWU) def. McCaffrey (DU) 6-0, 7-6
• No. 3: Spears (DU) def. Lennart Bengtsson (IWU) 7-5, 5-7, 6-0
• No. 4: Ethan Gray (IWU) def. Maurant (DU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
• No. 5: Bozonnet (DU) def. Isaiah Hostetler (IWU) 6-2, 6-3
• No. 6: Pena (DU) def. Riley Fuqua (IWU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

 

GLEGHORN PERSPECTIVE

 

• "I am really proud of the way the team battled today," said James Gleghorn, Head Tennis Coach. "We never gave up and fought hard to give ourselves the chance to start the season 2-0. The men played well and represented IWU even better! In victory or defeat, we play to honor Him, and we did that today."

 

LOOKING AHEAD

 

• The Wildcats will face Spring Arbor on Tuesday at home at 3:30 p.m.

 

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS

 

• Follow Athletics (@IWUWildcats): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• Follow Tennis (@iwu_tennis): Instagram

#