MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Northwestern men's tennis team picked up key victories over Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) foes on Saturday, handing both Bethany Lutheran College and the University of Minnesota Morris losses. UNW is now 6-2 in league play with two conference matches left to go.

Northwestern vs. Bethany Lutheran Match Results

Northwestern's 5-4 victory over Bethany Lutheran was a back and forth battle that nearly saw the Eagles squander an early 3-0 lead after doubles action. UNW took all three of the early contests, including a pair of 9-8 (8-6) wins at both Nos. 1 and 2 doubles. Tanner Magruder (Altoona, Wis./Altoona) and Turner Main (Kewaunee, Wis./Kewaunee) also turned in an 8-6 victory at No. 3 doubles.

CJ Lloyd (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) picked up UNW's fourth point of the day with his 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Bethany Lutheran's Jacob Kubler at No. 1 singles, but it wasn't until Joshua Kimball (Waseca, Minn./Waseca)'s No. 4 singles match was over that the Eagles had the team score in its control for good. Kimball was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over the Vikings' Carter Dahl. Bethany picked up singles victories at the Nos. 2, 3, 5, and 6 slots, including third set tiebreaker in Brett Jacobus (Lakeville, Minn. /Lakeville North)'s No. 2 bout versus Andrew Jelkin.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota Morris Match Results

Northwestern was able to secure a victory much faster against Minnesota Morris as the Eagles defeated the Cougars 8-1 for the second Saturday in a row. UNW's lone loss came at No. 4 singles, which was determined in a third set tiebreaker.

The Eagles once again came away victorious in all three doubles matches to establish a solid 3-0 lead heading into the singles round. Lloyd once again took care of business in a 6-0, 6-2 win against UMM's Alex Wilson, which nearly mirrored Kimball's 6-2, 6-0 victory over Jordan McCall.

Main recovered nicely from a 7-6 (8-3) first set loss as the freshman came back to beat Kevin Cunningham 6-3 and 1-0 (10-6) at No. 5 singles. Nathan Elias (St. Anthony Village, Minn. /St. Anthony) was also a winner at No. 6 singles as he handed Brian Nyakundi a 6-4, 6-3 defeat.

The wins boost Northwestern to an 8-12 overall record as the Eagles head into a rather light week in the next seven days compared to the four-match week that is now in the rear view mirror. UNW hosts the College of St. Scholastica on Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m. in what will be the Eagles' final home match of the 2015 campaign.