OWATONNA, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Men's Tennis team continued its heater to open the 2024 season on Saturday. The Eagles fought to a 5-4 win over old friend, College of St. Scholastica, in the morning session before cruising to a sweep of Ripon College to close out the day and remain undefeated at 8-0.
Match One: College of St. Scholastica Saints
Northwestern and St. Scholastica did battle in the UMAC for many years before the Saints departed for the MIAC in 2021, and their competitive yet respectful rivalry has carried on via non-conference matchups in the years since. Saturday's edition was no different, as the winner was not decided until late in the match. CSS jumped out to an early lead with an 8-5 win at third doubles over
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Eli Henderson (Andover, Minn/Andover) and an 8-2 victory over
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) at second doubles. Northwestern's first doubles team of
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) and
Jacob Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) was able to remain unbeaten on the season, securing an 8-7 (7-4) win to get UNW on the board entering singles.
Northwestern's top two of Morrell and Weddle both entered the match undefeated on the season and lived up to the hype as they gave the Eagles the lead. Morrell, who became UNW's all-time Men's Tennis wins leader last weekend, won 6-3, 6-1 in the #1 spot. Weddle needed a little more time, but secured a 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 (tiebreak) win at #2 singles. The Saints drew even with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Haack at #3 singles, but Jarchow battled back after dropping the first #4 singles set, 3-6, winning the second by a 7-5 margin and the tiebreak, 10-7. Rupp clinched the win with a thrilling, 7-5, 7-5 win at #5 singles. CSS was able to win at #6 singles over
Caleb Jergenson (Livingston, Mont./Park), 6-4, 6-2, but it was too little, too late.
Match Two: Ripon College Red Hawks
After a spine-tingling win in the morning match, the nightcap versus Ripon was slightly less dramatic.
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) and
Jacob Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) cruised to an 8-2 win at first singles to kick things off. Not to be outdone,
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) won at second singles by an 8-1 margin.
Eli Henderson (Andover, Minn/Andover) and
Ben Schutz (Maplewood, Minn./Homeschool) teamed up for an 8-5, third singles win to give UNW a commanding lead entering singles play.
Morrell got perhaps his toughest test of the season thus far at #1 singles, dropping set one, 2-6 before bouncing back for a 6-0 second set win and 10-4 in the tiebreak. Weddle had no problems at #2 singles, winning 6-2, 6-1, while Haack handled business in the #3 spot, 6-2, 6-1. Jarchow won a tight first set, 7-6 (7-2), before settling in for a 6-1, second set win.
Caleb Jergenson (Livingston, Mont./Park) stepped into the #5 singles spot and excelled to the tune of a 7-5, 6-1 victory, while Schutz brought home a 6-1, 6-0 win at #6 singles to close out the 9-0 sweep.
The 8-0 Eagles will shift to the great outdoors for their next few matches as part of their annual spring break trip. They will play five matches in Florida, beginning March 11
th with Connecticut College and Salve Regina University. Stay tuned to unweagles.com for more updates and results from the Sunshine State.
