WAVERLY, Iowa - The University of Northwestern St. Paul Men's Tennis team improved to an incredible 9-0 on the season with a pair of closely contested wins on Saturday. The Eagles earned a 5-4 win over Wartburg College to open the day before taking down Monmouth College 6-3 to maintain their undefeated status on the year. Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) earned both match-clinching fifth points for the Eagles.

Match One

The Knights jumped out to a 2-1 lead in doubles, with only the duo of Morrell and Caleb Quernmoen (Becker, Minn./Becker) earning an Eagle point with an 8-3 win at the #3 match.

Singles play went much better for the Eagles as they took four of the six matches, just enough to win the match. Wartburg took the #1 match to go up 3-1 before the Eagles went on a 3-0 run to take a slim 4-3 lead. Matthew Wedin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) got the second Eagle match point with a 6-2, 0-6, 10-6 win at #4 singles, with Jack Geurkink (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) following with a 6-4, 6-1 win at #5 to even the match at 3-3. Adam Ryerse (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) gave UNW a one-point lead with a 7-5, 4-6, 10-5 victory at #2 singles.

Wartburg managed to win #6 singles to even the match 4-4 with just the #3 singles match remaining. Fortunately for the Eagles, Morrell was up to the task as he battled his way to a 7-6, 6-3 win to earn the match-winning point for UNW.

Match Two

The day wasn't over just yet for the Eagles, as they had to refocus after a huge win to compete against Monmouth.

The Eagles fared better in doubles this time, taking two of three. Morrell and Isaac Velgersdyk (Savage, Minn./Southwest Christian) won the first point with an 8-0 shutout at #3 doubles. Ryerse and Geurkink followed with an 8-3 win at #2 before the Scots took the #1 match 8-6.

Hoping to avoid another tense finish, the Eagles were on fire out the gate in singles play. Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) and Geurkink each swept their opponent 6-0, 6-0 at the #6 and #5 matches, respectively. Up 4-1 and needing just a single singles win to win the match, Morrell once more answered the call with a 6-0, 6-1 win at #4 singles to earn the vital fifth point for the Eagles.

Ryerse earned the final point for UNW in the match with a 6-1, 7-5 win at #3 singles.

Up Next

Northwestern takes on Bueva Vista University and Concordia College Minnesota next Saturday, March 27.