ST. PAUL, Minn. – Tuesday marked the beginning of the University of Northwestern Men's Tennis team's most grueling stretch of the season (outside of the state of Florida, at least). Northwestern is scheduled to play five matches in five days, beginning with a home tilt with the class of the American Rivers Conference, the Luther College Norse. The Eagles hung tight through doubles play but ultimately lost, 1-8.
When a brief rain shower interrupted the doubles matches, UNW appeared to be in good shape, leading two of the three matches at the time. Unfortunately for
Matt Swigart's squad, the Norse were able to flip one of those in their favor.
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Ben Schutz (Maplewood, Minn./Homeschool), who led 2-1 when the rain began, wound up losing 3-8 at #3 doubles. The #1 team of
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) and
Jacob Weddle (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback after falling into a 1-4 hole, but lost a heartbreaking 7-8 tiebreaker. Northwestern did gain some momentum heading into singles matches; however, as the #2 doubles team of
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) won 8-5 to pull UNW within one at 1-2 entering singles play.
Simply put, singles matches did not go Northwestern's way. Jarchow was the first to finish, losing 1-6, 1-6 at #4 singles. Schutz was next off after a 2-6, 1-6 loss in the #6 match, followed by Rupp with a 1-6, 4-6 in the #5 spot, clinching the team win for the Norse. Morrell fell 2-6, 2-6 at #1 singles, which ended an 11-match winning streak in singles play for the team's ace. Haack battled at #3 singles but lost a heartbreaker. The freshman took set one 6-4, lost set two 2-6, then lost the tiebreak 9-11. The final match of the night provided some drama as well, but ended in a loss for Weddle at #2 singles, 2-6, 6-7 (6-8).
The 16-8 Eagles will be back in action tomorrow (Wednesday, April 24
th) at home as they welcome the Macalester Scots to the Johnson Tennis Complex. The team will honor seniors
Eli Henderson (Andover, Minn/Andover),
Stewart Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) and
Darin Rupp (Sioux Falls, S.D./Roosevelt) before the match begins at 4:30 PM.
