Box scoreJACKSONVILLE, Illinois – The Prairie Fire ran the table with a 9-0 Midwest Conference victory at Illinois College on Tuesday.
The match against the Blueboys was especially sweet for first-year players
Tung Nguyen (Chicago, IL, Gordon Tech) and
Ganesh Uppalapu (Glen Ellyn, IL, Glenbard South). Nguyen defeated IC's Jacob Moodie 6-0, 6-1 at #6 singles for his first college win. Meanwhile, Nguyen and Uppalapu teamed up for their first #3 doubles win of the season, an 8-1 triumph over DeVaughn Green and Moodie.
Uppalapu also made it a sweep on the day with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at #5 singles against Green.
In the other matches, sophomore
Rohail Khan (Islamabad, Pakistan, Roots School System) prevailed 6-0, 6-1 against Brandon Hollenbeck at #4 singles. First-year
Ashwin Kushwaha (Rochester, MN, Mayo) won at #3 singles against T.J. Lawal 6-0, 6-2; senior
Karl Ruzgas (Downers Grove, IL, Downers Grove North) took a 6-2, 6-0 decision from Anthony Samples at #2 singles, and senior
Walter Palmer (Wilmette, IL, New Trier) rolled past Elijah Rhoad 6-0, 6-0 at the #1 slot.
Kushwaha and Khan defeated Lawal and Hollenbeck 8-0 at #2 doubles. Palmer and Ruzgas topped Rhoad and Samples 8-0 at #1 doubles.
The Prairie Fire host a pair of Midwest Conference matches on Saturday. Knox squares off against Cornell College at 11:00 a.m. followed by Grinnell College at 3:00 p.m.
