Thunder Men's Tennis News
5/3 - Knust and Huhnke Named First Team All-MIAA Tennis
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - For the first time in school history, the Trine University tennis teams have landed a player on both the men’s and women’s All-MIAA First Team. Freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) made it the fifth straight season for a Trine men’s player to be represented and junior Jessica Huhnke (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) was named for the second straight season.
Knust stormed onto the season for the Thunder in his first season going undefeated (6-0) in MIAA singles action at the number one spot. Knust took down eventual MIAA MVP in Hope’s Bobby Cawood 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 during their regular season dual match. Knust dropped just one match throughout the year to a Division III opponent in singles play and fell just once in a dual-meet during the spring, which was to a Division I opponent to finish the fall and spring seasons with a 17-4 record in singles play. Knust also went 9-10 in doubles action for the year including a 4-2 record in conference play.
Huhnke, who earns first team honors for the second straight year, becomes the first Trine women’s tennis player to be named multi All-MIAA selection. Huhnke finished the conference season with a 6-2 record at the No. 1 singles position for the Thunder and an overall record of 16-6, with three of her losses coming to non-Division III opponents. Huhnke also went 4-4 in conference doubles action at the No. 1 spot and finished the year with a 12-10 record.
4/13 - Men’s Tennis Take Second at Own Invite
ANGOLA, Ind. - In the first ever Trine University Men’s Tennis Invitational, the Thunder team placed second out of four teams with two-day total of 23 points. Grace College took the team title with 30 points, while Capital University was third with 18 and Defiance was fourth with seven points.
The tournament used a round-robin format for doubles matches and six flighted singles pairings.
Trine finished the tournament with a 6-6 record in singles action and 6-3 record in doubles matches. For the singles flighted tournament, the Thunder took home one first and four second place finishes.
Trine freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) had an outstanding weekend as he capture the No. 1 singles title. In his first match, Knust defeated Michael Blevins from Grace 6-1, 6-4. Knust would capture the championship with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Luke Buchanan from Capital.
In the No. 2 flight, Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) won his opening match 6-3, 6-2 before falling in the title game 6-2, 6-0. In the third singles flight, Joe Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) took down his first opponent 6-1, 6-2 but fell 6-2, 6-1 in the championship. In the fifth singles, Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) had to use a second set tiebreaker to defeat his opening round opponent 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Ihrie would then come up on the short end of the stick in the finals, falling 6-1, 6-1. In the final flighted matches at the sixth position, Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) made quick work of his first opponent 6-2, 6-0. Derby would take the silver as he fell 6-1, 6-1 in the finals.
In doubles action, Trine went undefeated against both Defiance and Capital, but dropped all three of their matches to Grace. The team of Knust and senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) nearly knocked off the Blevins brothers from Grace, falling 9-7.
Trine will travel to Taylor for their next match on April 17 for a 3:00 p.m. match.
4/9 - Thunder Fall to Conference Leaders
ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University men’s tennis team was nearly able to knock off conference leading Calvin College but fell 6-3. The loss drops the Thunder to 5-9 on the season and 1-3 in the conference.
It was a tough start for the Thunder as they dropped all three doubles matches. In the No. 1 match, the duo of senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) fell 8-5. In the second match, junior Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) and sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) dropped their match 8-2. In the final doubles match the team of junior Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and senior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) fell 8-3.
Trine picked up all three of their wins in singles action, winning at No. 1, 3 and 6 positions. In the top spot, Knust took down the reigning MIAA Player of the Week Brian DeMaagd 6-1, 6-3. In the third match, it would take Desper three sets to pull out the victory over Philip Reinken 5-6, 6-1, 6-4. Ihrie would win in straight sets in the sixth position 6-2, 6-4. In the No. 2 match Dunbar fell 6-0, 6-3 while Murray dropped his fourth match 6-0, 6-2. In the fifth position sophomore Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) fell 6-2, 7-6.
The team will host the two-day Trine Men’s Invitational beginning on April 9 at 4:00 p.m. at Angola High School. The four-team tournament will also include Defiance, Grace and Capital and will continue at 9:00 a.m. on April 10.
4/6 - Trine Netters Get First MIAA Win of the Season
ADRIAN, Mich. - The Trine University men’s tennis team picked up their first conference win of the season as they defeated Adrian College 6-3. The Thunder snap a three-game winless streak as they improve to 5-8 on the season and 1-2 in the MIAA.
The Thunder fell behind early as they dropped two of three doubles matches. The tandem of freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) and senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) took the lone win at the top position 8-1. The duo of sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta ) and senior Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) fell by the same score at No. 2 doubles, 8-1. In the third match, the team of junior Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and senior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) fell 8-6.
In the singles matches, Trine made a comeback as they won five of six, three of which went three sets, and a fourth went to a tie-breaker. In the No. 2 match, Desper made quick work of his opponent 6-1, 6-0. At the fifth position, Richardson also won in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. At the No. 1 position, Knust defeated Jordan Verbauwhede 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Sophomore Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) defeated Alex Amos at the fourth position 6-0, 4-6, 6-1. The final win for Trine came at the sixth position as Ihrie took home a 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 win. Trine’s lone singles loss came in the third singles match, as Murray fell in a marathon match to Michael Mertz 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-4.
Trine will return to action on April 9 when they host Calvin for an MIAA match beginning at 4:00 p.m.
3/30 - Thunder Drop First MIAA Match of the Season
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Although the Trine University men’s tennis team dropped their conference opening match to defending conference champion Kalamazoo, the Thunder can use the 7-2 result as momentum going forward as it marked the first time since 2008 that they took multiple matches from the Hornets.
Trine (4-7) was led by freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) at the top singles position who won his match over All-MIAA player Peter Rothstein 6-2, 6-1. The other victory for the Thunder came at the sixth position as junior Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) won his match 5-7, 6-2, 10-3. At the No. 5 spot, sophomore Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) fell in three sets 6-4, 1-6, 10-4. In other singles action, seniors Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) fell at the third and fourth positions 6-2, 6-1 and 6-3, 6-1 respectively. Rounding out the singles matches was junior Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) who dropped his No. 2 match 6-2, 6-0.
In doubles action, the team of Dunbar and sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) nearly knocked off their opponents at the second spot as they fell 8-6. At the top position, the team of Knust and Desper fell 8-3 and Ihrie and Murray dropped their third doubles match 8-1.
Trine will look to get back on the winning track when they host Hope on April 3 at 4:00 p.m.
3/16 - Thunder Fall to DI IPFW
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - It was a tough day for the Trine University men’s tennis team as they fell to Division I IPFW 9-0. The loss drops the Thunder to 4-6 on the season.
In the closest match of the day, senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) nearly knocked off Connor Andrews in the No. 2 singles, falling 6-2, 6-4. Freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) also put up a tough fight at the top singles position, falling 6-3, 6-2 to a player from Brazil. Sophomore Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) also took multiple sets in the fifth spot, falling 6-1, 6-3. In other singles action, junior Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) at the second position, senior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) in the fourth position and junior Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) at the No. 6 position all fell 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles action, Knust and Desper took a pair of sets in their 8-2 loss at the top spot. In the third doubles match, Murray and Ihire also took two sets in an 8-2 loss. In the second position, Dunbar and sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) fell 8-0.
Trine will next travel to Taylor for a 3:00 p.m. match on March 20.
3/11 - Knust Named MIAA Tennis Player of the Week
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Trine University tennis team swept the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association men’s and women’s Player of the Week awards for matches played through March 10. Freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) won the award for the guys.
Knust posted a perfect 4-0 record at No. 1 singles for the Thunder during their spring trip, winning all four matches in straight sets. His victories included wins over NCAA Division II opponents Malone, Ohio and Post, Conn. He also had a 2-2 record at No. 1 doubles for the week. Knust is being honored for the first time this season.
3/9 - Tennis Wraps Up Superb Spring Trip
HILTON HEAD, S.C. - The Trine University men’s and women’s tennis teams concluded their Spring Break trip with fantastic results as the men’s team went undefeated at 4-0 while the women were 3-1.
The men’s squad (4-5 overall) came into the break with a 0-5 record, but proved they will be a tough opponent come conference season as they knocked off two Division II teams in Malone and Post. The Thunder started the trip off with a 9-0 win over the St. Louis School of Pharmacy, then a 5-4 victory over Malone, followed by a 6-3 win over Post and finished up with an 8-1 victory over Alvernia.
In singles action, Trine dropped just three of 24 matches. Freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) and seniors Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) all went undefeated at 4-0 for the week. Sophomore Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) was also undefeated in singles play with a 3-0 record.
In doubles action, the team of junior Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and senior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) also won all four of their matches.
On the women’s side, the Thunder (6-3 overall) started the week with an 8-1 victory over the St. Louis School of Pharmacy and then dropped their only match of the week to Malone 6-3. Trine rebounded with a 7-2 win over Saint Vincent and finished off their trip with an 8-1 win over Alvernia.
The doubles team of juniors Jessica Huhnke (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) and Chrissy Uphaus (Centerville, Ind./Centerville) along with the duo of senior Samantha Willmann (Anderson, Ind./Frankton) and junior Lauren Schlueter (Akron, Ohio/Revere) went a perfect 4-0 on the week.
On the singles side, freshman Lexi Mack (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) was the only undefeated player on the week at 3-0. Also, sophomore Erin Kwaske (Jackson, Mich./Western), junior Chrissy Uphaus (Centerville, Ind./Centerville) along with Schlueter and Huhnke all went 3-1 in singles play for the week.
9/29 - Thunder Tennis Wraps Up Fall Season
INDIANAPOLIS - The Trine University men’s and women’s tennis teams wrapped up their fall seasons as they made the trip down I-69 to Indianapolis to face a tough Marian University.
On the men’s side, the Thunder fell 6-3, as they picked up wins in both singles and doubles action to finish the fall 0-4. Freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) won at the first position in a near sweep, 6-0, 6-1. In the number three singles match, senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) picked up a 6-1, 6-4 win for the Thunder. In other singles action junior Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) fell 6-2, 6-1 at the second position and senior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) fell 6-0, 6-2 in the number four singles match. The final singles match saw Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) fall 6-1, 6-0 in the number six singles.
In doubles action, the team of Desper and Knust won in a tie-breaker 9-8 (9-7). In second doubles, Dunbar and sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta ) fell 8-2 while Derby and Murray dropped their third doubles match 8-3.
The Trine women’s team had a tough task at hand against the 25th ranked Knights, dropping their match 9-0 to finish 2-1 in dual matches for their fall season. Junior Jessica Huhnke (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) put up a tough battle in her number one singles match, falling 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 10-6. In the second position junior Chrissy Uphaus (Centerville, Ind./Centerville) fell 6-1, 6-0 while fellow junior Lauren Schlueter (Akron, Ohio/Revere) dropped her fourth singles match 6-2, 6-0. Seniors Susan Breinling (Fremont, Mich./Faith Christian ) and Kaylynne Goeglein (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) fell in their fifth and sixth singles matches by identical 6-0, 6-1 scores. In the number three singles position, sophomore Erin Kwaske (Jackson, Mich./Western) also fell 6-0, 6-1.
The doubles team of Schlueter and senior Samantha Willmann (Anderson, Ind./Frankton) put up the toughest fight at the second position, falling 8-4. In the number one match, Huhnke and Uphaus fell 8-3 while Kwaske and freshman Alexis Mack (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) fell 8-1 in the third position.
9/26 - Thunder Split Road Match
GOSHEN, Ind. - The Trine University tennis teams split their trip to Goshen College as the women took home the win 7-2, while the men’s team fell 7-2.
The women’s team opened by winning five of the six singles matches to improve the Thunder’s record to 2-0 to start the fall season. At the top spot, junior Jessica Huhnke (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) won her match 6-4, 6-1 while fellow junior Lauren Schlueter (Akron, Ohio/Revere) took her match 6-1, 6-3 in the second singles spot. Sophomore Erin Kwaske (Jackson, Mich./Western) won her third singles match 6-1, 6-1. In the fourth singles position junior Chrissy Uphaus (Centerville, Ind./Centerville) nearly swept her opponent, winning 6-1, 6-0. In the number five singles match senior Kaylynne Goeglein (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) dropped a hard fought three-set game 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. Finishing out the singles matches in the number six position was freshman Alexis Mack (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) who won another three-set match 7-6 (4-2), 4-6, 10-8.
In doubles action, the team of Huhnke and Uphaus won the first position 8-3 while Schlueter and Willmann took the second spot 8-1. The tandem of Kwaske and Mack dropped their number three doubles match 8-2.
The men’s team dropped to 0-3 on the season as both of their wins came in singles action. At the number three position, senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) won in a three set marathon 6-7 (7-9), 7-5, 10-6. In another marathon match at the sixth singles spot, sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) won his match 5-7, 6-4, 11-9. Freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) dropped a three set match in the number one singles match 6-3, 2-6, 10-6. At the number two singles junior Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) fell 6-2, 6-2. In the four position, sophomore Joe Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) dropped his match 6-1, 6-0. In the final singles match at the fifth position, senior Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) fell 6-1, 6-1.
The Thunder were swept in double competition at the team of Desper and Knust dropped the top match 8-2. In the number two doubles match Clark and Dunbar fell 8-0 while Derby and freshman Tony Waltermann (Indianapolis, Ind./Center Grove) fell 8-1 in the number three position.
Trine will wrap up their fall season when the men’s and women’s teams travel to Marian University on September 29.
9/20 - Thunder Drop Road Match
MARION, Ind. - The road has not been kind to the Trine University men’s tennis team as they dropped their second match of the season 8-1 to Indiana Wesleyan.
Trine’s win came at the fourth singles position as senior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) won his match 6-4, 6-0. Freshman Caleb Knust (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) put up a tough match at the number one singles position, falling 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) also took his number six singles match to three sets before falling 6-2, 4-6, 6-0. In the third singles match senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) pushed the second set to the limit but fell 6-2, 7-5. At the number two position junior Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) fell 6-3, 6-2. The final match saw sophomore Joe Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) drop his fifth singles match 6-0, 6-2.
In doubles action Knust and Desper took their number one pairs match to the limit, but were unable to come out on top 9-7. In the second doubles match Dunbar and Richardson fell 8-1 while Derby and Murray fell 8-3 in the third doubles position.
Trine will be back in action on September 22 for their only home match of the fall season as they host Huntington at 3:30 p.m.
9/10 - Thunder Tennis Splits Opener
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - For the first time since moving to NCAA the Trine University tennis teams opened their season in the fall, as they split their matches with Indiana Tech with the women winning 7-2 while the men fell 8-1.
On the women’s side, Trine defeated the Warriors for the second straight season. Sophomore Erin Kwaske (Jackson, Mich./Western) turned in the Thunder’s top performance in the third singles position, shutting out her opponent 6-0, 6-0. In the top singles match, All-MIAA player Jessica Huhnke (Newburgh, Ind./Castle), a junior, took her match 6-3, 6-3. In the fifth and sixth positions seniors Susan Breinling (Fremont, Mich./Faith Christian) and Kaylynne Goeglein (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) won by near identical scores of 6-2, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-2 respectively. Trine’s other singles win came in the fourth position as junior Lauren Schlueter (Akron, Ohio/Revere) won 6-3, 6-0. The only singles loss came in the second match as junior Chrissy Uphaus (Centerville, Ind./Centerville) fell 6-2, 6-1.
In doubles action, the Thunder took two of the three matches. Schlueter and Willmann won at second doubles 8-3 while Kwaske and freshman Alexis Mack won in a sweep in the third position 8-0. The team of Huhnke and Uphaus dropped the number one doubles match 8-3.
The men’s team only win came at the top singles spot as freshman Caleb Knust defeated Fernando Gonzalez 7-5, 7-6 (3-0). Sophomore Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) nearly held off his opponent at the sixth singles, falling 6-7 (0-4), 6-3, 10-8. Senior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) fell just short in the number three singles match, 6-4, 6-3. Junior Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) fell in the third singles match 6-0, 6-2 while sophomore Joe Clark dropped his fourth singles match 6-2, 6-4. Senior Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) fell in the final singles match, the fifth singles, 6-0, 6-1.
The Thunder were swept in their doubles matches as Desper and Knust had the closest match in the number one spot, falling 8-6. In the number two position Dunbar and Richardson fell 8-4 while Derby and freshman Tony Walterman fell in the third position 8-0.
The women’s team will next compete in the two-day MIAA flighted tournament beginning September 21 while the men will travel to Indiana Wesleyan on September 20 for a 4:00 p.m. match.
