Salukis look to end four game skid

By Gus Bode

The SIUC men’s tennis team returned to Carbondale Monday with a four-game winless streak.

The Salukis lost to Winthrop University 7-0, Jacksonville University 6-1, the University of North Florida 7-2 and Bethune-Cookman College 4-3 on their trip to Florida for spring break. The losses dropped the Salukis’ spring record to 3-6.

After dropping every match in the opener to Winthrop March 10, the Salukis picked up wins from sophomore Kenny Hutz in No. 2 singles and from Hutz and senior Mick Smyth in No. 1 doubles against Jacksonville Friday. Hutz improved to a team-best 6-3 on the year with the win.

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Smyth beat North Florida’s Alec Etheridge 6-2, 6-3 and Hutz beat UNF’s Kai McGreevy 6-0, 6-3 for the Salukis’ wins against North Florida March 11.

The Salukis saved their best effort for last, narrowly falling to Bethune-Cookman College Friday. Sophomore Kyle Henry beat BCC’s Mark Wellington, senior Jack Oxler handled BCC’s Tomas Uhrik and senior Brian Etzkin knocked off BCC’s Cedric Babu.

SIUC plays host to the University of Evansville Friday to open the Missouri Valley Conference season.

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