GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay men's tennis team upended Valparaiso by a 6-1 final on Saturday afternoon at Western Racquet and Fitness Center. It was the first league match of the season for the Phoenix, which improved to 9-5 on the year with its fourth straight win and seventh in eight matches.

"I am very pleased with how we started out in conference play today," head coach Mark Thomas said. "Valpo is a team we lost to last year in a tight match, so this was a very good win for our program."  

Green Bay opened by taking two of three doubles matches to earn the doubles point, then controlled five of the six singles contests to earn the win. The final three singles spots all went to three sets, with Phoenix players winning two of them.

The Phoenix picked up straight-sets singles wins from No. 1-3. In order, Fabian Gogolin (Cologne, Germany) won in the top spot by a 6-4, 6-4 count, Paul Swanson (Coon Rapids, Minn) was victorious 6-4, 6-1, while Matt Clegg (Stevens Point, Wis.) cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 victory.

Other singles winners were Henning Jess (Kaltenkirchen, Germany) at No. 5, and Marko Skoric (Zagreb, Croatia) in the No. 6 line. Gogolin (No. 1 doubles) and Swanson and Jess (No. 2 doubles) were two-event winners for the Phoenix.

Green Bay returns to action tomorrow against UIC. Match time is set for 10 a.m.

Green Bay 6, Valparaiso 1

Doubles

No. 1     Gogolin/Oothoudt (GB) def. Deihle/Tom Litscher (VAL) 9-8

No. 2     Jess/Swanson (GB) def. Baum/Whitmer (VAL) 8-5

No. 3     DeHerrera/Stump (VAL) def. Skoric/Clegg (GB) 8-3

Singles

No. 1     Fabian Gogolin (GB) def. Adam Whitmer (VAL) 6-4, 6-4

No. 2     Paul Swanson (GB) def. Kyle Stump (VAL) 6-4, 6-1

No. 3     Matt Clegg (GB) def. Chris Baum (VAL) 6-0, 6-2

No. 4     Tim Litscher (VAL) def. Josh Oothoudt (GB), 6-4, 2-6, 10-6

No. 5     Henning Jess (GB) def. Arne Deihle (VAL) 6-3, 3-6, 10-7

No. 6     Marko Skoric (GB) def. Kevin DeHerrera (VAL) 6-4, 3-6, 10-4

--GreenBayPhoenix.com--