Joseph Shie turned in Monmouth's best showing at ITA Central Regional Friday and Saturday.as the Scots men's tennis season began with a road trip to St. Louis, Mo.
    
Competing in the men's open draw Friday, each of Shie's matches went the maximum three sets, beginning with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 loss to Mitchell Thai of Dennison. Moving into the consolation bracket, Shie clipped Ohio Wesleyan's Ben Stein. Shie dropped the first set 6-4, but rallied back with a 6-3, 1-0 win to move to the second round of consolation where he advanced with a bye.
    
Shie resumed play Saturday morning with a third round consolation matchup with Omar Santiaqonunez Ahumada of Ohio Wesleyan. Shie dropped the first set 6-2, but came back with a 6-4 second set win. He was eliminated from the field in a 1-0 third set loss.
    
Also competing in the men's open draw, Alex Martin fell in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 to Jack Wagner of Kenyon in the first round to move into the consolation bracket. Martin was knocked out of the tournament in a 6-0, 6-2 first round consolation loss to Elmhurst's David Demoll.
    
Shie and Martin teamed in the open doubles Friday evening where they fell to Denison's Mitchell Thai and Timothy Ciancipla 8-2. Monmouth's tandem was eliminated in the first round of consolation play 8-1 by Daniel Kroeze and Mark Vanderstoep of Hope.
    
The Scots open their spring season in February.