SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern men's tennis team opened its 2016 campaign at Johnson Courts at Reynolds Field in style, as the Eagles recorded back-to-back victories. UNW hosted the Vikings of Bethany Lutheran College (7-2) Saturday morning, followed by the Knights of Martin Luther College (9-0) in the afternoon. The Purple and Gold dominated both matchups.
UNW 7, BLC 2UNW 9, MLC 0The Eagles opened the day against Bethany Lutheran.
CJ Lloyd (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) took the No. 1 singles match to extra sets (6-7, 6-0, 1-0 [10-8]), and yet grabbed another win in the top spot. Freshman
Landon Ridpath (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech ) cleaned house in No. 3 singles (6-0, 6-0), while
Joshua Kimball (Waseca, Minn./Waseca) grabbed No. 5 singles (6-2, 6-0) with a show of force. Northwestern continued the contest with a sweep in doubles play, with Lloyd and partner
Brett Jacobus (Lakeville, Minn. /Lakeville North) having the toughest challenge (8-5) in the No. 1 slot. Kimball and
Cameron Fair (Sterling, Kan./Sterling) grabbed No. 3 doubles (8-4) as the Eagles finished off the first matchup of the day.
Northwestern built on the morning's win in Saturday's second match, as the Eagles swept the contest, with Lloyd crushing a shutout in No. 1 singles (6-0, 6-0).
Derek Williams (Zimmerman, Minn./Elk River) needed additional time to win No. 4 singles (6-2, 6-7 [7-9], 1-0 [10-8]), and he took advantage. The men stayed perfect in doubles play on the Johnson Courts, with Ridpath and Williams notching a perfect 8-0 game in No. 2 doubles.
The men's tennis team will return to action Thursday, April 21, at the University of Minnesota-Morris. The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) match will get underway at 3 p.m.
