Freshman Louis Payne's victory at #6 singles clinched a 5-4 victory for the Forester men's tennis team over Principia College on Saturday. Lake Forest added an 8-1 triumph over host Illinois Institute of Technology at the XS Athletic Club in Chicago.
Payne and fellow freshman Brant Christensen began the match against Principia by doubling up their opponents 8-4 at #3 doubles. Lake Forest also earned the point at #2, where freshman Brett O'Brien and junior Scott Drier prevailed 8-3, but Principia won at #1.
Singles play started with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph for Drier and Forester sophomore Nick Zazove took both sets 6-3 at the top spot in the lineup. After the Panthers came back with victories at #5 and #2, Payne came out on top of a 6-1, 6-4 decision at #6 to clinch the match.
O'Brien and Drier got the Foresters off to a good start against Illinois Tech with an 8-2 win at #2 doubles and, after the Scarlet Hawks earned their only point of the contest at #3, Zazove and junior Matt Kacyn finished off an 8-3 victory at #1.
Drier completed a 4-0 day with a 6-3, 6-0 win at #4 singles and junior Joe Bove edged out his counterpart at #5 6-3, 4-6, (10-5). After O'Brien's 6-4, 6-1 victory at #2 clinched the match for the Foresters, the visitors added a 6-2, 7-5 triumph by freshman Aidan Burke at #6, an 8-5 win by Kacyn at #3, and a 6-3, 6-2 victory for Zazove at #1.
Lake Forest improved to 7-6 on the season while Principia fell to 7-6 and Illinois Tech to 8-11.
The Foresters' next five contests will be against fellow Midwest Conference members, beginning with next Saturday's home match against Knox College, which will begin at 2:00 p.m.
