WINONA, Minn. – The Northwestern College men's tennis team won its first match of the 2013 season on Saturday, defeating Loras College 9-0 in a neutral site contest for both squads. The Eagles' sweep of the Duhawks was new head coach
Matt Swigart's first career victory at the team's helm.
David Knight (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) started things off for the Eagles as he didn't have much trouble with Loras' Brian Falvey in a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles. While
Keagan Blancke (Elk River, Minn./Elk River)'s match at No. 2 singles took a little longer, the senior's end result was the same as Blancke defeated Noah Schmall 7-6 (11-9), 6-2.
Jimmy Ekman (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) and
Philip Gudim (Becker, Minn./Home School) both took a set in 6-0 fashion in their Nos. 3 and 4 singles matches, setting up NWC for a 6-0 sweep in singles.
Northwestern-Loras Results
Knight and Blancke outlasted Falvey and Schmall 9-7 in their No. 1 doubles match, while Ekman and No. 2 doubles partner
Agassi Mila (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) beat Ulises Hernandez and Jeff Kasel 8-5. Gudim and
Levi Busse (Amery, Wis./Amery) wrapped up the day with a No. 3 doubles win over Neil Kane and Garrett Prusha in 8-2 fashion.
Earlier on the day, Northwestern took on Saint Mary's University in an 8-1 loss. Knight was the lone Eagle to pull out a victory in that match as he defeated the Cardinals' Bobby Steingraeber 7-6, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Playing in the No. 4 singles spot, Ekman lost a close match to Gavin Smith that finished at 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) in Smith's favor.
Northwestern-Saint Mary's Results
Knight and Blancke finished two games away from a victory in doubles action as they fell to Michael Lunka Steingraeber 8-6.
Saturday's two matches were Northwestern's last contests until the Eagles head to the Atlantic coast for their annual spring break trip which will take NWC to Hilton Head, S.C. in just under two weeks. Now 1-3 on the year, Northwestern will play its first matches in a warmer climate on March 8 against St. Louis and Wittenburg Universities.
