ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Northwestern men's tennis team challenged Bethel University of Indiana on Thursday. The Eagles won a doubles match and three singles contests, but fell to the Pilots 4-3 by NAIA rules.
With the match having been played with NAIA rules, the doubles matches counted not as three points but just one with the winning team of a majority of the matches earning the sole point. The Eagles duo of
Jack Geurkink (Hudson, Wis./Hudson) and
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) won their #2 Doubles match for UNW. The Pilots, however, took the other two matches to earn the team point from Doubles.
Up 1-0 entering singles play, the Pilots extended their lead to 2-0 with a #1 Singles win. The Eagles responded with back-to-back wins, starting with
Jacob Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) winning his #3 match 6-3, 6-1.
Tyrus Studer (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens) followed with 6-1, 6-3 win at the #5 spot to even the score.
Tied up at 2-2, the Pilots broke away with wins at #2 and #4 Singles to take the match with four points.
UNW got one more point as
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) was victorious at #6 Singles with a 6-1, 6-4 win.
Up next for the Eagles are their final two scheduled Florida matches on Friday. UNW battles Monmouth at 8:00 A.M. eastern time followed by an 11:30 A.M. eastern time match against Immaculata.
