INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology advanced to the semifinals of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference men's tennis tournament with a 5-2 victory over Defiance College on Saturday morning.

Senior Joe Rottman (Evansville/ Castle) and freshman Michael Schoumacher (Memphis, Tenn.) each earned singles victories and combined for a doubles win to lead the team effort.  Both won in two sets in singles play and won in doubles by an 8-3 count. 

The No. 2 doubles team of seniors Daniel LaPlante (Terre Haute) and Steve Shepson (Redlands, Calif.) added a noteworthy doubles victory.  With the team leading 7-6, LaPlante suffered a significant ankle injury.  He persevered through the next game, however, with the Engineers breaking serve to secure the win.

Rose-Hulman improved to 11-8 overall and squares off with top-seeded Transylvania University on Sunday at 8 a.m. at the West Indy Racquet Club.  The winner of the HCAC Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 

ROSE-HULMAN 5, DEFIANCE 2

SINGLES
1. Joe Rottman (R) def. Tim Kurtz 6-3, 6-3
2. Tyler Ault (D) def. Daniel LaPlante (injury)
3. Steve Shepson (R) vs. Ashton Converse (Not completed)
4. Cody Nash (D) def. Scott Grubbs 6-1, 6-2
5. Michael Schoumacher (R) def. Nate Scharzbek 6-0, 6-0
6. Matt Rusin (R) def. Mike Mauk (Not completed)

DOUBLES
1. Rottman/Schoumacher (R) def. Ault/Nash 8-3
2. LaPlante/Shepson (R) def. Kurtz/Converse 8-6
3. Grubbs/Peter Wenzel (R) def. Schwarzbek/Mauk 8-3

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