The Butler men's tennis team defeated Washington University (4-1) and Saint Louis University (4-0) on Monday, Jan. 20 in St. Louis, Mo., moving the Bulldogs to 3-1 on the season.

Against a nationally-ranked Wash-U team, the Bulldogs dropped all three doubles-sets before turning around to win four straight singles matches. In the top flight, Thomas Brennan defeated Ethan Hillis (7-5, 6-4), while
Filip Tensing won the No. 2 flight by scores of 6-2 both sets.

Olof Wiklund took the No. 4 flight 6-4 both sets and Drew Michael sealed the deal with a 7-5, 6-2 win in the No. 5 spot to take the match. Alvaro Huete was locked in a tight contest (6-7, 6-6) in the No. 3 flight that went unfinished following Wiklund's match-determining win. Ryan Roegner came back from a first set loss to force a third match in the No. 5 spot that was not played out.

In the match against the Bilikins, the Bulldogs came out strong, sweeping all three doubles matches to take the first team point of the game. The top Bulldog team of Brennan/Wiklund won the first match 6-2 and No. 3 team of Huete/Trimpe earned a 6-3 winto claim the point.

At No. 2 doubles, Roegner/Michael led by a score of 5-3 when Huete/Trimpe finalized the doubles win.

Butler went on to win three singles matches and led the remaining three that went unfinished. Brennan won his second individual match of the day in the top flight, winning 6-1 both sets to give the Bulldogs their first singles point.

The No. 5 flight was the next to finish, as Michael claimed his second straight set win of the day. Michael Karr made an appearance in the No. 6 slot, winning 6-1, 6-2 to give Butler three singles wins, enough to take the match.  

Tensing (No. 2), Huete (No. 3), and Wiklund (No. 4) went unfinished, but all won their first sets.

The Bulldogs (3-1) will host a double header against Valparaiso and Marian on Saturday, Jan. 25. The matches will serve as the home opener for the Bulldogs and the season opener for the Crusaders and Knights.

Butler 4, Wash-U 1
Doubles (order of finish: 2, 1, 3)

1. Neves/van der Sman (Wash-U) def. Brennan/Wiklund, 6-2
2. Hillis/Wu (Wash-U) def. Roegner/Trimipe, 6-2
3. Smith/Komis (Wash-U) def. Huete/Tensing, 6-3

Singles (order of finish: 2, 1, 5, 4)

1. Brennan (Butler) def. Hillis, 7-5, 6-4
2. Tensing (Butler) def. Neves, 6-2, 6-2
3. Suman (Wash-U) led Huete, 7(3)-6, 6-6 (unfinished)
4. Wiklund (Butler) def. Takabatake, 6-4, 6-4
5. Michael (Butler) def. Kroot, 7-5, 6-2
6. Roegner (Butler) tied Smith, 5-7, 6-3 (unfinished)

 
Butler 4, SLU 0
Doubles (order of finish: 1, 3*)

1. Brennan/Wiklund (Butler) def. Heiden/Badaiants, 6-2
2. Roegner/Michael (Butler) led Nogalski/Tintore, 5-3
3. Huete/Trimpe (Butler) def. Cruz/Marri, 6-3

Singles (order of finish: 1, 5, 6*)

1. Brennan (Butler) def. Badaiants, 6-1, 6-1
2. Tensing (Butler) led Nogalski, 6-1, 2-2 (unfinished)
3. Huete (Butler) led Tintore, 7-6, 0-1 (unfinished)
4. Wiklund (Butler) led Heiden, 6-3, 5-2 (unfinished)
5. Michael (Butler) def. Cruz, 6-1, 6-2
6. Karr (Butler) def. Marri, 6-2, 6-1