RIPON, Wisconsin – After a nearly three-week layoff, the Ripon men's tennis program used a fast start in doubles to jump in front early and defeat Dubuque 8-1 on Wednesday afternoon inside the Willmore Center.
 
Though doubles was close throughout, Ripon (2-12) swept all three courts to gain a critical 3-0 lead over Dubuque (3-4) heading into singles play. On court three, Corey Mooney and Ty Rondestvedt won a tight 8-7 (3) match, while Austin Stevens and Jaden Francis teamed up for an 8-6 win on the second court. To punctuate doubles, Clayton Counts and Caleb Sippel also won on a tiebreak, 8-7 (1), on the top court with singles play looming.
 
In singles, Counts breezed to a 6-4, 6-2 win on court three to put Ripon one win away from a clinch before Stevens won 6-4, 6-3 on the second court to secure the victory.
 
With the outcome of the match decided, Sippel joined the party with a 6-3, 6-3 win on the top line before Rondestvedt grinded out a 7-5, 1-6, (10-2) three-set win on the fourth line.
 
To round out the match, Francis won 6-4, 6-4 on court five while Mooney dropped a tight third-set match on the sixth line.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon begins Midwest Conference play on Saturday (March 30) at home against Lawrence. First serve is scheduled for 9 a.m.
 
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