By Cameron Schwarz

Feb. 10, 2016

The men’s tennis team traveled to take on University of Kenyon Ohio and the University of Chicago.  UW-Whitewater took a split on the weekend, winning 6-3 to Kenyon and losing 8-1 to Chicago on Feb. 6..

The Hawks dealt with lots of adversity during the meet. 

“I have been fighting off a bit of a fever,” senior Michael Treis said.  “I told my coach I was going to play through it and give it everything I have.”

Head coach Barnes applauded Treis’ will to stay in the match while dealing with leg cramps. 

“It was a physically and mentally a challenge for Treis,” Barnes said.

To get the win, the ’Hawks needed help from the doubles side  Scott Butler and Rithwik Rajshekhar Raman won 8-4. Michael Schnarr and Grant Thompson also won 8-6.

Treis dropped the first set 6-3, and fell down 4-1 in the second set.

“I just started going for my shots more,” Treis said.  “Things started clicking, shots started falling and my teammates started to get a little more into it.”

Going into the third set with the second set victory under his belt, Tries was still dealing with cramps.

“It’s something I’ve been dealing with my whole career,” Treis said.

Treis knew he had to switch up his game to save his legs. 

“I tried to cover the net as much as possible, while also moving up on the baseline instead of three feet behind,” Treis said.

The whole team rallied around Treis as he was making his run.

“I didn’t want to let anyone down, and I knew somehow, someway I was going to get through this set,” Treis said.  “My legs held up till I hit that last ace at 40-30.  Next thing I knew, I was lying on the ground, and I’m hobbling to the net to shake my opponents hand.”  Treis was greeted by his teammates storming at him in celebration.

“It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had,” Treis said.  “Being able to show the guys I wasn’t going to give up on them, and I was going to do whatever it took to get that win.”

Barnes believes this was the biggest win in team history.

“It was the first win against a top-10 program,” Barnes said.

The team will face Kalamazoo College and Hope College on Feb.13 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.