MOLINE, Ill. – After a successful spring break trip to Orlando, Florida, the Augustana men's tennis team was impressive in its first venture back in the Midwest. The Vikings defeated Illinois Institute of Technology 9-0 on Friday, March 9 at the Quad City Tennis Club in Moline, Illinois.
 
Head Coach Jon Miedema's team wasted no time getting the upper hand as it swept the doubles portion in convincing fashion. Seniors Eric Pohl (Fremd HS, Palatine, Ill.) and Samuel Totten (University HS, Normal, Ill.) defeated Yousef Abdo and Adam Laitinen 9-0 at number one. The number two team of junior Jack Morkin (University HS, Bloomington, Ill.) and freshman Peter Alex (Hinsdale South HS, Darien, Ill.) won 8-5 over Fanklin Zhong and Broderic Croonquist. Freshmen Tom Friberg (Lund, Sweden) and Caio DeRezende (Sao Paulo, Brazil) took care of Andrew Woltman and Connor Mullane 8-2 at number three.
 
Entering into the singles portion with a comfortable 3-0 lead, the Vikings did not let up on the gas. Totten gave up the most sets as he defeated Zhong 6-4; 6-2 at number one. The rest of the Augustana team only lost 10 sets in a total of five matches.
 
DeRezende beat Yousef 6-1; 6-0 at number two and Alex handled Laitinen 6-2; 6-2 at number three. Pohl posted a 6-1; 6-0 victory over Abhishek Rana at number four and freshman Rodrigo Medeiros (Brazil) defeated Croonquist 6-1; 6-1. Sophomore Scott Daluga (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) took care of Jack Pio 6-0; 6-2.
 
Augustana moved to 8-6 on the season and IIT fell to 7-4. The Vikings, who have won five of their last seven matches, will travel to Grinnell, Iowa on Sunday, March 11 to take on the Pioneers in a non-conference match.