2012 Principia Invitational Match Results

Elsah, IL – The Prairie Fire men’s tennis team had a successful two-day run at the Principia College Invitational on February 10 and 11.

Coming off of a season split on February 4 with a 9-0 win over Edgewood College (WI) and a 6-3 loss to a very good University of Dubuque team that’s off to a 3-0 start, Knox played exceptionally well in the four-team round robin event.

First-year player Karolis Ruzgas (Downers Grove, IL, Downers Grove North) had an especially impressive tournament.  He was nearly unbeatable, finishing with a 5-1 overall record after going 2-2 in the Fire’s season-opening matches in Dubuque.

Ruzgas won two of his three #4 singles matches and teamed up with fellow first-year player Walter Palmer (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) to go undefeated at #2 doubles.  He and Palmer took the #2 doubles tournament title with victories against players from host Principia College, Greenville College, and NCAA Division II member Quincy University. 

Ruzgas won singles matches against players from Greenville and Quincy.  His only loss was against Nate Waters of Principia 4-6, 6-2, (1-10).

The Prairie Fire won both the #2 and #3 doubles competition at the tournament as well as #4 and #7 singles.

First-year Jonathan Ng (Hong Kong, China) and junior David Ham (Lakewood, WA, Shadow Ridge) played #3 doubles for Knox while sophomore Max Gaytas (Plymouth, WI, Plymouth) played #7 singles.

A much improved Prairie Fire squad resumes play Saturday, February 18 against Ripon College.  The match, scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m., will be played in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The Red Hawks lost their only match played so far this season.  Wartburg College (3-0) downed Ripon 8-1 on February 12 in Ripon, Wisconsin.

The Knights have outscored their three opponents 26-1 in their three matches this season.  The other wins were shutouts against Edgewood College (9-0) and Central College (9-0), both matches played in Waverly, Iowa.

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