ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern St. Paul Men's Tennis team faced the Bethany Lutheran Vikings in the first round of the 2021 UMAC Tournament, as the Eagles flew by the Vikings with a 9-0 sweep to advance to the next round.

UNW swept their doubles match while dropping just a single game. Adam Ryerse (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) and Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) put Northwestern up 1-0 with an 8-0 sweep of their #2 match. Isaac Velgersdyk (Savage, Minn./Southwest Christian) and Tyrus Studer (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens) followed with an identical 8-0 sweep in their #3 match. The duo of Davis Pfaff (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) and Matthew Wedin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) rolled to an 8-1 victory in the #1 match to send UNW and BLC to singles with the Eagles leading 3-0.

In singles, Morrell earned the fourth team point for Northwestern with an emphatic 6-0, 6-0 sweep in his #3 match. The match-winning fifth point was earned by Wedin as the junior cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory at #4 singles to seal the team win for UNW.

Velgersdyk proceeded to win his #5 match with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep. Ryerse took his #2 match 6-1, 6-0. Zachary Revenig (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) swept his #6 singles opponent 6-0, 6-0.

Though the match was well in hand, the #1 singles match was a lengthy battle. Pfaff rallied down two games in the opening set to win 7-5. The senior then steadily fought his way to a 6-2 second set win to seal the 9-0 team sweep for the Eagles.

Up next for Northwestern is a break from the UMAC Tournament as the Eagles will travel to face UM-Morris on Friday, April 30, at 3:30pm for a non-conference contest.