ST. PETER, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's tennis team started the 2014-15 season competing at the ITA Regional and Midwest Open hosted here today at Gibbs Tennis Courts on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College.

Complete Results | Coach Interview

Several Blugolds had impressive showings in the Midwest Open in singles and doubles action.  Conrad Felten (So.-Wausau, WI/East) went 5-1 in singles play to advance to the semifinals of his bracket.  Felten defeated Will Hamilton of Grinnell 6-2, 6-3, John Banovetz of Hamline 6-0, 6-0, Alex Smith of Gustavus Adolphus 6-1, 6-0 and won his semifinal match 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 before falling to Gabe Steinward of Gustavus 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Andrew Rust (Fr.-Golden Valley, MN/Hopkins) also advanced to the semifinals of his bracket in singles action.  Rust defeated Matt Seracki of Hamline 6-0, 6-0, Matt Christensen of St. Olaf 6-1, 6-1, Christian Purrell of Carleton, teammate Michael Mauthe (So.-Neenah, WI) 6-3, 6-2 and Mark Conrad of Carleton 6-3, 7-6 before falling to Christian Beck of St. Olaf in the semifinal 7-6, 6-0.

Mauthe was 3-1 on the weekend, defeating Austin Storm of Concordia-Moorhead 6-1, 6-0, Taylor Parr of Gustavus 6-1, 7-5 and Sam Cychosz of Luther 6-1, 6-1 before meeting his teammate Rust.

In doubles action the team of Rust and Will Weyenberg (So.-Neenah, WI) went 5-1 advancing to their bracket final.  Rust/Weyenberg defeated Austin Storm/Zach Biggar of Concordia-Moorhead 8-0, Justin Bowman/Seb Lauterbach of UW-Whitewater 8-5, Kolin Kiekhoefer/Bret Lizotte of Bethel 8-6, Simon Brandt/Kevin Krause of UW-La Crosse 8-1 and Colin Shea/Ben Halvorson of Gustavus 8-6 before losing their final match to Mauricio Gonzalez/Kevin Hurley of Carleton 1-6, 6-1, 10-8.

The ITA Regional/Midwest Open will be the only fall action of 2014 for the Blugolds.  Their next scheduled match will be Saturday, February 7 when they host Wheaton College of Illinois.  Action will begin at 1:00 p.m.

-KCM-