NEW BERLIN, Wis. - The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's tennis team dropped its season-opening match to St. Mary's (Minn.) Saturday, 7-2, at Moorland Park Tennis Center.
In doubles competition, the team of Lee Johnson (Hales Corners, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and Zach Birner (Neenah, Wis./Luther Preparatory) was handed a tough 8-5 loss at No. 1 against SMU's Tim Wolford and Gavin Smith. WLC was unable to pick up wins in either of its remaining doubles matches, falling 8-4 and 8-1 to the Cardinals' (4-0) other two tandems.
Johnson picked up the first win for the Warriors at No. 1 singles, defeating Wolford 6-3, 6-1. Birner also was able to squeeze out a three-set victory at No. 4 singles, edging Blake Olmscheid 3-6, 6-4, 10-5. Ryan Sallmann (Waukesha, Wis./West) and Adam Breister (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) came up just short in their respective flights, falling 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2, and 6-4, 6-4 at No. 5.
The Warriors (0-1) will next take on Carroll (0-3) next Friday at 6 p.m. at Moorland Park Tennis Center in New Berlin.
