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DETROIT (4/13/2014) -- Senior Bobby Cawood and sophomore Rafael Orantes were victorious in singles, but the Titans could not string along a few more wins as the University of Detroit Mercy men's tennis team dropped a 5-2 match to visiting UIC on a windy Sunday evening at the Titan Tennis Courts at the James K. Campbell Complex.
 
The loss puts Detroit at 3-14 on the season and 0-5 in the Horizon League as the red, white and blue will not be able to make the HL Championships due to tiebreakers. UIC improved to 4-9 and 1-3 in the conference.
 
"This team was very competitive and I think that was the most surprising thing about this young group," said head coach Grant Asher. "This team never gave up all season and beat some good teams like Duquesne and Toledo along the way, but with a lot riding on this match, I just think we got a little nervous out there."
 
Cawood increased his record to 3-2 in league play with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 score over Alexander Raa at No. 1. The win was also the seventh on the year for Cawood.
 
"Bobby has been just a great leader for us and we are all proud of him," said Coach Asher. "He leads by example and does everything the right way with no shortcuts and that is what you want out of a leader."
 
At No. 4, Orantes had to go to a third set to down Carl Hedstorm, 6-4, 0-6, 10-3, as he moved to 3-2 in the HL and tied teammate Patryk Koscielski for the team leads in singles wins with 11.
 
"When you play Rafael, you better come to play for four hours because he is feisty and just goes out there and plays hard all the time," added Coach Asher.
 
Koscielski almost came away with one at No. 3 as he forced a third set in a tough 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 bout, while junior Jay Joshi put up a good fight in a 7-5, 6-4 setback at No. 3.
 
In doubles, Orantes and Koscielski were down in their match 7-6 when it was called. Joshi and freshman Ismail Kadyrov were upended at No. 2, 8-5, and Cawood and freshman Matt White fell 8-1 at No. 3.
 
"This team is only going to get better with all of these guys coming back," said Coach Asher. "This team loves to play and their competitive spirit is great and that is what you want as a coach."
 
Detroit will wrap up the regular season this week with two matches as the Titans play Green Bay on Friday at a place still to be determined before ending the season at home against IUPUI on Saturday.