By: Ryan Hartwig (@RyanHartwig)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - In its first home contest in over a month, the Green Bay men's tennis team opened Horizon League play on Saturday with a 6-1 victory over UIC at Western Racquet and Fitness Club. The Phoenix dropped the doubles point to start the match, but rallied to take all six singles matches to improve to 12-5 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

"It was great being back at home and to start the conference season with a good win over UIC today," Phoenix head coach Mark Thomas said. "I was not pleased with our doubles performance today - we came out very flat and lacked energy - but I was impressed with the way our guys competed and finished in singles after the slow start. Our focus is to bring energy in doubles tomorrow against Valparaiso on Senior Day."

After the Flames secured the doubles point with wins in the No. 1 and No. 3 contests, the Phoenix came out strong in singles competition, rattling off wins in all six matches.

Senior Paul Swanson (Coon Rapids, Minn.) dominated at No. 1 singles against UIC's James Li, cruising to a 6-1, 6-2 win. Freshman Michael Tenzer (Neuried, Germany) and junior Erik Finkenbrink (Duelman, Germnany) also picked up straight-set wins in singles play, as Tenzer won 6-4, 6-2 over Alexander Raa at No. 2 and Finkenbrink rolled 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3 against Alan Reifer.

The duo of Finkenbrink and Craig Cox (Surrey, England) picked up the lone doubles win for the Phoenix on Saturday, as the pair battled to an 8-4 win over Maurizio Feoli and Alan Reifer at the No. 2 spot.

Green Bay is back in action on Sunday when it hosts Valparaiso for Senior Day at 10 a.m. at Western Racquet and Fitness Club.

Doubles
No. 1 - Rahul Kamath/Alexander Raa (UIC) def. Felix Goepper/Michael Tenzer (GB) 8-5
No. 2 - Craig Cox/Erik Finkenbrink (GB) def. Maurizio Feoli/Alan Reifer (UIC) 8-4
No. 3 - Scott Shepardson/Nathan Kirk (UIC) def. Michael Tebon/Paul Swanson (GB) 9-8(8)

Singles
No. 1 - Paul Swanson (GB) def. James Li (UIC) 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 - Michael Tenzer (GB) def. Alexander Raa (UIC) 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 - Erik Finkenbrink (GB) def. Alan Reifer (UIC) 6-0, 6-1
No. 4 - Felix Goepper (GB) def. Maurizio Feoli (UIC) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
No. 5 - Craig Cox (GB) def. Nathan Kirk (UIC) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 - Christoph Hopfe (GB) def. Rahul Kamath (UIC) 0-6, 6-1, 7-5

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