DE PERE, Wisconsin – Playing in its second match in just over 12 hours, the Ripon men's tennis program dropped a 6-3 decision to Saint Mary's (Minn.) on Saturday afternoon at the Green Bay Tennis Center.
 
Ripon (0-6) opened the match on a high note as the doubles team of CJ Counts and Caleb Sippel won on the top line for the second consecutive match, defeating the Cardinal pair 8-4 to give Ripon a 1-0 lead. Saint Mary's (3-3) responded, however, taking courts two and three of doubles to grab the 2-1 advantage heading into singles play.
 
In singles, SMU took four of six first sets. The Cardinals quickly clinched the match with wins on courts six, three, and five in succession. Both Sippel and Jaden Francis won first sets on courts one and four; Francis won a tight third-set bout (6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7)) while Sippel was a 7-6, 6-4 winner on the top line.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon takes on St. Norbert on Sunday (February 11) at 2:30 p.m. at the Green Bay Tennis Center to round out its weekend.
 
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