Among a field of 10 tough teams, the Cyclones put up their strongest effort of the season to finish sixth at the NJCAA Region IV Tournament, April 23-25, which they hosted.

The Cyclones earned a difficult seed to start the competition, but a few players advanced into placement rounds or placed. At No. 6 singles, Edwin Esparza Hernandez finished in third place overall. He won the first match in a bye, lost the second round 6-3, 6-4, and defeated his opponent from Sauk Valley 6-2, 6-4 in the final round.

James Coan won his first match 6-3, 6-2 and battled through a three-set tie breaker (2-6, 6-1, 10-6) at No. 4 singles before making it to the third/fourth place round. He lost the encounter and took fourth place overall in a tough matchup with Waubonsee (0-6, 7-6, 10-3).

At No. 3 doubles, Jakub Zolnik and Lucas Skowyra took third place in the tournament. They had a bye in round one before losing 6-2, 6-0 to Sauk Valley. Then they won a long match, 1-6, 6-4, 12-10, with Illinois Valley for third.

A few Cyclones ended their seasons in round one. Yianni Livieratos battled through a 6-1, 6-2 set loss at No. 1 singles. Ali Amer fell 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2. At No. 3 singles, David Souza dropped two (6-3, 6-3). Zolnik lost 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5. At No. 1 doubles, Livieratos/Souza fell 6-2, 7-5, and at No. 2, Amer/Coan lost 6-1, 6-3.

"The team played well, especially during a pandemic with a complete team of seven. Only four of the 10 teams at regionals could say that," said Cyclone Head Coach Mike Maratea.