The Dominican University men's tennis team played their final tune-ups before the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) season opens next weekend, splitting a pair of non-conference matches in Galesburg, Illinois.  The Stars dropped an 8-1 match to the Illinois College Blueboys before knocking off the host Knox College Prairie Fire, 5-4.
 
The split pushed the Stars overall record to 2-1 with league matches with MSOE and Edgewood on deck for next Saturday in Wisconsin.
 
"It was a very good effort all the way around today," commented the Stars' third-year head coach Troy Tonsil following the day. "While we did not get the results we wanted against Illinois College, we did score a win at number two doubles and had to play extremely well to do so.  Against Knox we grinded out point after point.  A win at number three doubles kept us close and we were able to bring it home in singles play.  The difference of the match was Samuel Pardinas who clinched the win with a victory at number six singles.  He played very composed and controlled the service game throughout the day.  I was very proud of his play today!"
 
Trailing the host Prairie Fire 2-1 after doubles, the Stars' numbers one, three, five and six singles picked up points to seal the win.  Brandon Pineda improved to 2-1 on his freshman season with a 6-4, 6-3 win at number three singles while Eric Sigaran scored a 6-2, 6-3 win at five singles.  Pardinas had to go to a tie-breaker third set, scoring a 10-7 win after the Stars' sophomore took the first set 6-1 before dropping the second set 4-6.