ST. PAUL, Minn. – After two wins earlier in the week, the University of Northwestern Men's Tennis team hoped to sustain its momentum heading into perhaps its biggest regular season match of the season Saturday morning. The Eagles hosted the University of Wisconsin-Superior, a perennial conference power since joining the UMAC, before closing the day with Crown College, who UNW swept just eight days prior. Northwestern was unable to slay the giant (UW-Superior), but did experience some déjà vu in a 9-0 sweep of the Polars.
Match One: University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets
The energy and intensity were palpable as a large crowd gathered to watch the top two teams in the UMAC do battle. The first match to conclude was at #2 doubles, where
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) fell by a 2-8 score. Next, the #3 doubles team of
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Ben Schutz (Maplewood, Minn./Homeschool) lost 5-8. Needing a win to inject some life into the team and the crowd,
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) and
Jacob Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) delivered. The #1 doubles duo won a thrilling match, 8-7 (10-8), that threw the fans on-hand into a frenzy as they chest bumped to celebrate.
UNW hoped the momentum from that #1 doubles win would carry into singles play, and it did for at least a moment. Morrell stayed hot with a convincing, 6-4, 6-2 win at #1 singles, but Jarchow came up short in the #4 spot, 1-6, 2-6. Schutz's 6-7 (2-7), 1-6 loss at #6 singles meant UNW no longer had any margin for error, as one more UWS win would clinch the team victory. The Yellowjackets would not have to wait long, as Haack fell in the #3 match, 6-7 (8-10), 2-6. Rupp also lost at #5 singles, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-6), and Weddle lost a tight one at #2 singles, 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, as UW-Superior claimed a 7-2 win over the Eagles.
Match Two: Crown College Polars
Despite the disappointment of the loss earlier in the day, there was still work left to be done. The evening match began in celebration as
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) was honored for becoming the program's all-time combined wins leader. His reward was handing over the reins to the #1 singles position to
Jacob Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) for the night, who was victorious, 6-3, 6-3.
Caleb Jergenson (Livingston, Mont./Park), in his first action of the day, was dominant in a 6-0, 6-1 win at #5 singles, as was
Ben Schutz (Maplewood, Minn./Homeschool), who won 6-1, 6-1 in the #4 slot.
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) took care of business at #2 singles with a 6-1, 6-3 win, while
Eli Henderson (Andover, Minn/Andover) did the inverse at #6 singles, winning 6-3, 6-1.
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) capped off singles play in style with a 6-4, 6-0 win in the #3 spot.
The fun continued as doubles play began and
Matt Swigart rolled out some different pairings than usual.
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) joined Morrell in the #1 doubles match and the pair won 8-2. Rupp welcomed Jarchow into the fold at #2 doubles, which resulted in an 8-0 win for the home team. Finally, Jergenson and Henderson teamed up for an 8-4 win at #3 doubles to put an exclamation point on the 9-0 sweep of the Polars.
Up Next
Northwestern is scheduled to host Luther College on Tuesday, April 16
th at 6:30 PM, weather permitting. There is rain in the forecast and the women's match that was scheduled for that day has already been moved, so stay tuned to unweagles.com for further updates.
