Men's Tennis Topped By Rams, Beavers In Season Debut

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (WLCSports.com) - The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's tennis team opened its 2017 season on Saturday by suffering a pair of non-conference defeats against Cornell (Iowa) and Buena Vista.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores: Cornell (Iowa) 9, Wisconsin Lutheran 0; Buena Vista 6, Wisconsin Lutheran 3
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (0-2); Cornell (1-1), Buena Vista (2-2)
• Location: Small Multi-Sport Center Arena, Mount Vernon, Iowa; Clark Racquet Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The host Rams swept through doubles play in the opener to take a 3-0 lead over the Warriors. Wisconsin Lutheran played shorthanded as it lost by default at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.
• Cornell won all five contested singles matches in straight sets, but despite dropping his match at No. 4 singles, Jonathan Wordell (Mequon, Wis./Christian Academy in Japan) lost a competitive match to the Rams' Tom Greene, 6-2, 7-6.
• In the afternoon match, the Warriors were able to pick up a doubles win at No. 2 where Matt Plaski (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and Jonathan Wordell were 8-4 winners over Buena Vista's Will Connelly and Aaron Pluym. BVU had a 2-1 lead through doubles play.
• Both Plaski and Jonathan Wordell claimed identical 6-4, 7-5 wins at No. 3 and No. 4 singles for Wisconsin Lutheran. The Beavers, however, earned straight set wins in the remaining singles flights for the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Despite remaining winless in its season-openers, the Warriors have finished with at least six wins and a .500 conference record each of the last four seasons.
• The matchup with Cornell marked the third straight season the two teams have played each other.

UP NEXT

• The Warriors return to action next Saturday in Decorah, Iowa for two more non-conference matches against Simpson (0-2) and host Luther (1-0).