KOHLER – The Lakeland University men's tennis team got into the win column for the first time this season in emphatic fashion, sweeping all nine matches in defeating Concordia University Chicago Saturday morning.

The Muskies opened their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference schedule in style with their first match sweep in 11 years. Lakeland defeated Rockford University 9-0 back on April 1, 2007, but had not swept in 136 dual matches since.

The Muskies' closest win came at No. 1 singles, where Nick Lange (So.-Mukwonago, Wis.) came back after losing a first set tiebreaker to defeat Concordia's Orlando Hayes 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 10-6. Lange also teamed with Nathaniel Nanda (Fr.-Elkhorn, Wis.) at No. 2 doubles for an 8-3 win over Andrew Thompson and Aleksandar Utvic.

Nanda also topped Dille 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 singles. Also winning at singles was Jared Nummerdor (Jr.-Waupun, Wis.), who topped Thompson 6-1, 6-3. Yuki Sakata (Fr.-Japan) was victorious at No. 3 singles by a 6-3, 6-3 count over Utvic, Dylan Skewis (Sr.-Ishpeming, Mich.) bested Kenneth Catron 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5 singles, and Bill Behrmann (Jr.-Long Lake, Wis.) added a 6-0, 6-1 win over Nico Powell at No. 6 singles.

Nummerdor and Skewis also added an 8-3 win over Dille and Hayes at No. 1 doubles. Lakeland finished the sweep with Sakata and Eeshi Vue (Fr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) pairing up for an 8-1 win over Catron and Powell.

The Muskies (1-5 overall, 1-1 NACC) ended up with a split on the day, finishing with a 9-0 loss to Dominican (Ill.) University in the afternoon.

Sakata had the team's best performance in singles, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Camden Knights at the No. 3 flight. Nanda also was competitive in a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Tarik Abdullah at No. 4 singles.

Lakeland's best showing at doubles came from the No. 2 team of Lange and Nanda, who dropped an 8-4 decision to Abdullah and Frank Lally.

The Muskies are back in action Wednesday when they travel to face Wisconsin Lutheran College at noon at Elite Sports Club in Brookfield.