Greeley, Colo. - The Eastern Washington University men's tennis team displayed its unique toughness this week in two dual match battles in back to back days. After dropping a close contest against Air Force on Thursday, Feb. 11, Eastern fought back in another close match, beating Northern Colorado 4-3 on Friday, Feb. 12.

EWU now sits at 4-2 in dual matches on the season, with one more match against North Dakota to close out their road trip on Sunday, Feb. 14.

With the doubles points going UNC's way, the Eagles needed to take over the game in singles play in order to take home the victory, and that is just what they did. Junior Robert Dula continued his complete dominance in dual match play, shutting down the 117th ranked player in the country, Eric Schuermans, in straight sets 6-0, 6-2. Other players contributing to the win are junior Wacil Bendjelti taking down Northern Colorado's Connor Finerty, 6-3, 6-2, and sophomore Vuk Vuckovic bounced back from his tough loss at Air Force, going two sets against Hayden Cramer, 6-3, 6-3. Junior Rendell Burghart clinched the match for Eastern with a clutch win against Alex Clerihew, 6-1, 7-5.

Head Coach Steve Clark shared his thoughts on Burghart's play, "I preach every day they ALWAYS have to give their best, so they can some time play their best and one time be the best, and today, Rendell got the call to play and came through."

Despite the score finishing 4-3 in favor of Air Force, EWU played a great match, and put up a strong fight against the Falcons. In the doubles contest, Robert Dula and freshman Victor Pereira took down the top AF team in Lucas Fumagalli and Tadhg Collins, 6-4, but the Eagles could not secure the doubles point.

Dula once again earned a win, beating Fumagalli 6-1, 7-6(4) in the singes portion. After dropping the first set 0-6 against Max Olson, senior Eduardo Bringold completed an outstanding comeback, getting back into the match with a 7-5 second set, and clinching the win, 6-4, in the final set. Bendjelti earned his second singles victory this week against Luke Sanderson finishing 7-6, 2-6, 10-4.

With two matches complete on this current road trip, Robert Dula remains undefeated in singles duals play at 6-0. Paired with teammate Pereira, they own a 5-1 record in doubles.

Results:

Eastern Washington - 3
Air Force - 4

Doubles:
1. Dula/Pereira (EWU) def. Fumagalli/Collins (AF) 6-4
2. McCuller/Olson (AF) def. Vuckovic/Bendjelti (EWU) 6-4
3. Parks/Perez (AF) def. Ness/Bringold (EWU) 6-0

Singles:
1. Dula (EWU) def. Fumagalli (AF) 6-2, 6-2
2. Parks (AF) def. Pereira (EWU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Bringold (EWU) def. Olson (AF) 0-6, 7-5, 6-4
4. Perez (AF) def. Vuckovic (EWU) 7-6 (5), 6-1
5. Bendjelti (EWU) def. Sanderson (AF) 7-6, 2-6, 10-4
6. Collins (GU) def. Ness (EWU) 6-4, 6-2
 
Eastern Washington - 4
Northern Colorado - 3

Doubles:
1. Dula/Pereira (EWU) vs. King/Mayo (UNC) DNF
2. Schuermans/Cramer (UNC) def. Vuckovic/Bendjelti (EWU) 6-4
3. Finerty/Sheldon (UNC) def. Ness/Bringold (EWU) 6-1

Singles:
1. Dula (EWU) def. Schuermans (UNC) 6-0, 6-2
2. King (UCN) def. Bringold (EWU) 6-0, 1-6, 6-1
3. Mayo (UNC) def. Pereira (EWU) 7-6, 6-4
4. Bendjelti (EWU) def. Fienrty (UNC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Vuckovic (EWU) def. Cramer (UNC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Burghart (EWU) def. Clerihew (UNC) 6-1, 7-5