VIDEO: CAM METZGER INTERVIEW

VIDEO: DAN HOPKINS INTERVIEW

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology earned its first NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Tournament victory in program history with a 5-4 win over Wheaton College (Ill.) on Thursday afternoon at Washington University.

Junior Cam Metzger won the deciding match at No. 3 singles by a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 score. Rose-Hulman led 4-1 in the match, before the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin champions rallied to knot the match at 4-4.

Rose-Hulman earned the program's first NCAA Division III Tournament win in its third consecutive trip to the national event.  The Fightin' Engineers also tied a school record with their 20th victory of the season.

Rose-Hulman jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play.  The team of seniors Georges Adam and Brandon Benedict defeated a team from Wheaton 8-4 that is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Central Region and will compete in the national championship tournament later this month.  Senior Joe Kendall and freshman Austin Perry added a critical second doubles point with an 8-5 victory.

In singles play, Benedict and sophomore Andrew Schiffman rolled to straight set victories at the No. 2 and No. 6 flights to give Rose-Hulman a 4-1 match lead.  Wheaton answered with three-set wins at No. 1 and No. 4 singles and a straight set win at No. 5 to knot the score at 5-5.

Metzger led 5-2 in the final set and had a pair of match points fought off by Matt Steiner of Wheaton.  On his third match point, Metzger sent the Fightin' Engineers into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Rose-Hulman will face No. 4 ranked and top-seeded Washington University on Friday at 11 a.m. CT at the Tao Tennis Center in St. Louis.