CHICAGO, ILL.-The Illinois Institute of Technology men's tennis team faced The College of St. Scholastica in the 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship First Round at University of Chicago's Stagg Tennis Courts on Friday afternoon. The Scarlet Hawks picked up their first ever NCAA Tournament victory in a 5-2 decision over the Saints.

Illinois Tech (8-0) will advance to the 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship Second Round against Case Western Reserve University (10-2) tomorrow, Saturday, May 15 at the Stagg Tennis Courts. Match time is set for 2:00 p.m. St. Scholastica ends their 2021 season with a 10-5 record.

M �� | �� Hear what head tennis coach Erik Scanlan had to say about today's 5-2 victory over St. Scholastica! pic.twitter.com/b0RYd4K6ap

— Illinois Tech Athletics (@ILTechAthletics) May 14, 2021

Illinois Tech 5, St. Scholastica 2

The Scarlet Hawks exited doubles with a 2-1 advantage courtesy of victories from Brody Croonquist/Jordan Lauer (8-1) in the No. 2 slot, and Adam Laitinen/Roman Shishlov (8-2) in the No. 3 position. Alann Torres/Nabil Fawaz came back from a 5-1 deficit in No. 1 doubles to force a tiebreaker, where they dropped an 8-7 (8-6) heartbreaker to Elliot Schneider/Jack Kearney. 

Pablo Marroquin Borque gave Illinois Tech a 3-1 lead in No. 3 singles with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Jake Jolowsky. The Scarlet Hawks made things 4-1 when Nabil Fawaz stomped Carter Anderson 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 4 slot. The Saints cut their deficit to 4-2 in No. 1 singles, where Schneider beat Torres 6-2, 6-2. Shishlov clinched the match in No. 2 singles with a 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of Kearney, which made the score 5-2.