ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – After back-to-back heartbreaking, 4-5 losses, the University of Northwestern Men's Tennis team looked to close out its 2024 Florida spring break trip on a positive note. A date with the Susquehanna University River Hawks was just what the doctor ordered, as Northwestern prevailed by an 8-1 score on Friday.
The trusty #1 doubles team of
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) and
Jacob Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) set the tone for the day, dismantling their opponents, 8-0.
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) followed up with an 8-5 win at two doubles, but the River Hawks were able to close the gap heading into singles matches with an 8-5 win over
Caleb Jergenson (Livingston, Mont./Park) and
Eli Henderson (Andover, Minn/Andover) in the #3 spot.
That was all she wrote for Susquehanna, however. UNW claimed wins in all six singles matches to close out the 8-1 win.
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) was first off when his opponent retired after Jarchow took a 5-0 lead in set one of the four singles match. Morrell was next, defeating his opponent by a 6-2, 6-1 score at one singles. Weddle won 6-2, 6-1 at two singles to clinch the win for Northwestern, then Haack followed up a close, 7-5 win in set one at three singles with a 6-0 win in set two. Rupp took care of business in the five spot, winning 6-3, 6-4, leaving Jergenson (#6) as the lone Eagle still competing. After dropping the first set 3-6, the freshman battled back to force a tiebreak, winning the second set 6-4. The tiebreak was all Jergenson as he cruised to a 10-4 win to seal his match and the 8-1 win for the Eagles.
The Eagles will depart the Sunshine State with a 10-3 record on the season. Next up for UNW will be a road trip to Pella, Iowa on Saturday, March 23
rd where it will face Central College and Simpson College.
