OWATONNA, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Men's Tennis team traveled to rainy Owatonna for two matches on Saturday. The gloomy weather did not dampen spirits, as the Eagles prevailed with a 6-1 final score over Ripon College and a 7-0 sweep of Simpson College.
Match One: Ripon College Red Hawks
The team got off to a hot start against Ripon, sweeping and securing the doubles point. A new doubles pairings made its debut today, with freshman
Caleb Swigart (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) and junior
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) teaming up at No. 2 singles. They came out firing, securing the win with a 6-2 score. The No. 3 doubles team of
Caleb Jergenson (Livingston, Mont./Park) and
Ian Barber (Worthington, Minn./Worthington) reprised their first few matches together, taking home a 6-0 victory.
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and
Sam Majerus (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) echoed two doubles, taking care of business with a 6-2 final score in the No. 1 match.
Singles was a similar story, with only one Eagle falling. Majerus battled at No. 3, pushing to a tiebreak in set one, but ultimately fell 6-7, 3-6. No. 6 singles was also a battle, with
Sam Kettelhut (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) going the distance. Winning the first set handily, he dropped the second and went into a tiebreak. Kettelhut came in clutch, taking the match 6-0, 2-6, 10-6. Haack took care of business at No. 1, bringing home a 6-2, 6-4 win.
Caleb Swigart (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) kept the pedal to the medal, clinching the match with a 6-0, 6-1 final score at No. 4.
Caleb Jergenson (Livingston, Mont./Park) and
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) put up matching scores, securing notches in the win column at No. 2 and No. 5, 6-1, 6-1.
Match Two: Simpson College Storm
With some momentum in hand from the morning match, UNW put up an even better showing in the nightcap against Simpson.
Griffen Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Caleb Swigart (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) got the party started with a convincing, 6-1 win at No. 2 doubles, but the Storm were able to draw even with a 6-4 win over
Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and
Sam Majerus (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) in the No. 1 match.
Caleb Jergenson (Livingston, Mont./Park) and
DJ Stumpf (Stillwater, Minn./Hill-Murray) were able to come to the rescue and secure the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 3, getting Stumpf his first collegiate win.
With doubles matches in the rearview, the Eagles rolled through singles, taking every match. Jarchow won 7-5, 6-0 at No. 2, then Swigart, moving up from No. 6 to No. 4 on Saturday, emerged with a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Majerus took care of business at No. 3, 6-4, 6-1, before Jergenson came away with a 6-3, 6-4 win in the No. 5 match.
Sam Kettelhut (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) was consistent in his 6-4, 6-4, No. 6 singles win, and Haack wrapped up the 7-0 sweep with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 1.
Up Next
Northwestern will return to Owatonna on Wednesday for a match with Wartburg College. First serve is scheduled for 10:30 AM.
