RIVER FOREST, Ill. (WLCSports.com) - The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's tennis team wrapped up its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference slate Thursday afternoon, splitting with Dominican and Concordia Chicago on the road. The Warriors dropped a heartbreaking 5-4 decision to the Stars, before blanking the Cougars 9-0. The Warriors assured themselves of a conference tournamennt berth for the sixth straight season.
THE BASICS
- Final Scores: Dominican 5, Wisconsin Lutheran 4; Wisconsin Lutheran 9, Concordia Chicago 0
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (4-14, 4-4 NACC), Dominican (6-5, 4-2 NACC), Concordia Chicago (0-9, 0-6 NACC)
- Location: Park District, Forest Park, Ill./CUC Courts, River Forest, Ill.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors won the first two matches of doubles play vs. the Stars, as Ben Wordell (Mequon, Wis.) and Jeremy Ryno (Grayslake, Ill.) and Jonny Wordell (Mequon, Wis.) and David Ullerich (Milwaukee, Wis.) collected identical 8-4 wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Matt Plaski (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Grant Fleming (Kaukauna, Wis.) dropped a tight 9-7 decision at No. 3.
- Jonny Wordell and Ryno picked up straight set wins for Wisconsin Lutheran at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, but Dominican came back to win the other four flights in straight sets. The decisive match came down to No. 6 singles where Fleming was edged in three sets, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
- WLC claimed its sixth straight win over the Cougars in the latter match of the day, sweeping CUC 9-0 for the third straight season. The Warriors' same three doubles teams earned 8-1, 8-1, and 8-0 wins to carry a 3-0 lead into singles. Wisconsin Lutheran swept through singles play as well, winning five of six matches in straight sets. Ryno shutout his opponent at No. 3, winning 6-0, 6-0.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Jonny Wordell picked up his team-leading sixth and seventh singles wins of the season, while he and No. 2 doubles partner Ullerich collected their team-best fifth and sixth doubles victories of the season.
- WLC's 5-4 defeat to the Stars was its first by that score in their 12 meetings.
- The Warriors finished at least .500 in conference play for fifth time in the last six years
UP NEXT
- The Warriors will make their sixth straight NACC Tournament appearance when they play a First Round matchup Tuesday, May 1 against an opponent yet to be determined. Further details will be announced when the remainder of the conference teams conclude their schedules this weekend.
