Red Wolves - IU East

MARION, Ind. - The Indiana University East men's tennis team dropped a pair of matches Sept. 29 at Indiana Wesleyan University.

The Red Wolves (2-5 on the fall season) lost their morning match 5-4 against Anderson University (0-1).

IU East then lost 9-0 against Indiana Wesleyan (12-1), the Crossroads League regular season champion.

The Red Wolves started the day by sweeping the three doubles matches against Anderson. IU East also got a No. 6 singles win from redshirt freshman Johnny Gray (Jimtown, Ind./Elkhart High School), but couldn't come up with a fifth point.

Gray won 6-2, 4-6, 10-5 in his collegiate debut.

"Kudos to Johnny," said IU East coach Erskine Ratchford. "Johnny executed the supertiebreaker game plan exactly as conveyed and backed it up with shots that reflected thoughtful placement, depth and consistency. High-risk shots were eliminated and he moved quickly about the court to get to the ball early. Can't ask for much more than that, and he came back with the 'W'!"

Due to an illness, the Red Wolves had a late lineup shuffle in singles against Anderson.

IU East won no more than four games in any match against Indiana Wesleyan, which likely will be a Top 25 team when the NAIA coaches poll is released in the spring.

"We could hit with them, but hitting at that higher level beyond three, four or five shots resulted in errors which cost us numerous points," Ratchford said.

IU East concludes its short fall season Oct. 5 at Adrian College.

IU East-Anderson match results

IU East-Indiana Wesleyan match results