Travis Kriens

The South Dakota State men’s tennis team traveled to Louisville, Ky., last weekend to take on some of the top Division I programs in the nation.

SDSU’s No. 1 Michael Engdahl put up a fight at the Louisville Invitational before losing to Rob West of Cleveland State in 3 sets, 3-6, 6-1 and 6-2. Corey Paluch also lost in a close match to Timon Reichelt of Illinois State, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Engdahl and Paluch teamed up in the Flight A Doubles, losing to the Likitkumchorn/Miller team from Toledo, 8-3.

Freshman Justin Pyle moved on to the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket before falling to Brain Star of Xavier, 6-4, 6-2.

Jeff Hughes and Wade Kippley both competed in the Flight B Draw with Hughes losing, 6-1, 6-0 and Kippley losing, 6-1, 6-2.

Alex Lauseng, a freshman from Pierre, dropped straight sets to Juan Munoz of Xavier, 6-0, 6-1, in the Flight C singles.

“It was more of a trip to experience the very top level of tennis than to win matches,” said head coach Don Hanson. “We did not expect to win any matches but we were pleased at how close we are getting to the very best.”

The men’s fall season ends this weekend when they travel to Rapid City to play Northern Colorado. The women wrap up against Montana State-Billings, also in Rapid City.