ITA Midwest Regional Championship Results (PDF)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Eastern Illinois's own Jeff Rutherford and Jamie Firth had a nice showing at this past weekend's prestigious ITA Midwest Regional Championship as the two tennis standouts ended with a combined 3-4 record in singles and doubles action.

Senior Jeff Rutherford earned a spot in the 64-man Singles Draw after taking two wins in the Qualifying Round.  He had a bye to start off as he was seeded No. 2.  He then dispatched Brad Noel of Western Michigan in straight sets (6-0, 6-2).  He followed that with a nice three-set win over Austin Brooks of Michigan State (7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2).  

That helped him earn one of the 16 qualifying spots in the main Singles Draw, where he ended up dropping a match to DePaul's Ben Hartmann, but not before putting up a fight in the loss (2-6, 6-4, 6-7 (3)).  That dropped him down to consolation play where he dropped a straight set match to Illinois' Abe Souza (6-4, 6-1).  He finished the weekend with a 2-2 singles mark overall.

Sophomore Jamie Firth, meanwhile, dropped his opening Qualifying Round bout.  Yet he teamed with Rutherford for doubles action as the twosome topped their opening opponents from Wisconsin-Green Bay in a thriller (9-8 (3)).  Unfortunately they lost their next battle by the same score (9-8 (1)) to Western Michigan's doubles team.  That gave the Panther duo a 1-1 doubles mark overall.

This weekend play finishes up the Panthers fall portion of the schedule.  Eastern will officially begin 'spring' play at Purdue on January 18.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID