MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's tennis team closed out its non-conference schedule Sunday by splitting a pair of matches, losing to Cornell 8-1 before earning its first victory of the season over Loras 6-3.
In the opening match against the Rams, Ben Wordell (Lake Mills, Wis./Christian Academy Japan) and Adam Breister (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) were defeated at No. 3 doubles 8-5 as Cornell (5-8) swept through doubles play. Lee Johnson (Hales Corners, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) notched the Warriors' only win at No. 1 singles when he defeated Thomas Weiss 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 10-8. Wordell pushed Dale Kristian to three sets at No. 6 as the Warriors fought hard against Cornell.
In the second match of the day vs. the Duhawks, WLC swept doubles play as Johnson and Zach Birner (Neenah, Wis./Luther Preparatory) earned an 8-3 victory in No. 1. Derek Sallmann (Waukesha, Wis./West) and Austin Wagenknecht (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza) claimed a tough 8-8 (7-4) victory at No. 2. Breister and Wordell picked up a 9-7 win to complete the doubles sweep.
In singles play, Johnson earned his fifth victory of the season 6-0, 6-1. Birner won his match at No. 2, 6-1, 6-2. The Duhawks (0-7) won matches at No. 3, 4, and 5 before Wordell capped off the WLC victory with a 6-4, 6-3 win in the No. 6 spot.
Wisconsin Lutheran (1-6) opens Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play at home Saturday with a 10 a.m. match against Marian (0-4) and a 2 p.m. match vs. Edgewood (4-9).
