CLAREMONT, Calif. – Senior Dustin Phillips (Houston, Texas) of The University of Texas at Tyler men’s tennis team fell to Charlie Cutler of Washington-St. Louis, 6-2, 6-2, in the first round of singles competition at the 2009 NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis National Individual Championships on Friday at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont.

Later in the day, Dan LaFountaine and Nate Fox of Grinnell rallied from one set down to eliminate Phillips and his partner, junior David Ashlock (Arlington, Texas), from the doubles competition, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.

Phillips ends his season with a record of 25-5 in singles competition and, with Ashlock, a record of 20-6 in doubles action.

Phillips concludes his UT Tyler career with an outstanding singles record of 45-11 and will end his partnership with Ashlock having amassed an equally impressive 35-9 record.

Friday’s appearance marks the second straight season that Phillips has competed in the singles tournament and that Phillips and Ashlock have competed in the doubles event.

The National Individual Championship field is comprised of the top 32 singles players and top 16 doubles teams in all of Division III.