Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 LAKEVILLE, Minn. -- The University of Northwestern St. Paul Men's Tennis team battled Simpson College on Saturday in a doubleheader. The Eagles were victorious on the day, sweeping the Storm with back-to-back 7-2 wins.
Match 1
The Eagles came out a little flat in doubles but were able to turn things around quickly.
Isaac Velgersdyk (Savage, Minn./Southwest Christian) and
Tyrus Studer (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens) at #2 doubles had a back-and-forth match with the Eagles down a break for the majority of the match. But when it mattered most, they ended up closing the match with an 8-6 victory by winning the last four games with two service breaks.
The #1 and #3 doubles matches ended shortly after with both Eagles duos emerging victorious, making the match score 3-0 going into singles.
The Eagles dropped the #3 singles match, but answered at #2.
Matthew Wedin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) won in convincing fashion, rolling 6-2, 6-4 to bring the Eagles within one point of a team victory.
In a nail-biter,
Davis Pfaff (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) at #1 singles won the first set, dropped the second, and then was able to win his third set super tie breaker 9-11, notching the Eagles their match-winning fifth point.
Shortly after Davis's match clinching point,
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) won his #6 singles match. The freshmen started both his first and second set on fire before letting his opponent creep back into both. He ultimately showed resolve and was able to hold onto both sets, winning 6-3, 6-4.
At #4 singles, Velgersdyke lost a close first set. However, he kept fighting and was able to force a third set super tiebreaker, winning a second set tiebreaker 7-5. He was able to clinch the Eagles 7th point of the match, winning 10-8 in the super breaker.
The match's final tally was Eagles 7-2 with a quick turnaround for both teams heading into their second match of the day.
Match 2
In the second match, the Storms' #3 doubles team came out hot in an 8-4 victory, though the Eagles answered with
Adam Ryerse (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) and
Jack Geurkink (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) winning 8-6 at #1. The third doubles point came down to
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) and
Caleb Quernmoen (Becker, Minn./Becker) cruising to an 8-4 victory as the Eagles exited doubles play up 2-1.
The Storm earned a victory at #5 singles to even the score. Shortly after,
Collin Hemann (Newton, Iowa/Newton) finished up a dominant performance at #6 singles, winning 6-2, 6-1 and giving the Eagles the slight team score edge at 3-2.
Ryerse mirrored Hemann's strong outing with a 6-2, 6-0 victory of his own to bring the Eagles within one point from clinching the match.
The young freshman,
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) was able to step in at #2 singles and clinch the match for the Eagles with a solid 6-1, 6-2 win, bringing the Eagles to a 5-2 lead.
Quernmoen added to the Eagles match lead with a gutsy victory, winning a close match in a third set tiebreaker 10-6.
Geurkink closed out the match with a strong 6-2, 6-1 win, making the final score Eagles 7, Storm 2.
Post Match
At the end of the match, Quernemoen said, "It was fun being able to play today after such a long break. The team came out strong and juiced and we were able to feed off the energy of each other. Although it's tough playing in masks, it's just a good opportunity and I'm thankful to be out here today."
Having swept their season opening doubleheader, the Eagles look to improve to 3-0 on the season next Friday against the University of Dubuque. First serve is 6:30pm at Lakeville Lifetime Fitness.
