OWATONNA, Minnesota – The Ripon men's tennis program returned from a two-week layoff on Saturday, beating Martin Luther 4-3 and Crown 6-1 inside the Owatonna Tennis, Pickleball, and Fitness Center.
With the score tied at three apiece in the opener,
Corey Mooney won a 7-6 (5), 3-6, [10-5] battle on court four to give the Red Hawks their first victory of the season.
Against Martin Luther (0-3), Ripon (2-2) pulled in front early with strong doubles performances across the board.
Austin Stevens and
Caleb Sippel were 6-2 winners on court one, while the Red Hawks clinched the doubles point with a 6-1 victory on court three by
Ethan Tines and Mooney.
Ty Rondestvedt and
Ryan Richter were 7-6 (5) victors on court two as Ripon led 1-0 with singles yet to play.
Ripon kept the pressure focused on the Knights in singles. Sippel was an easy 6-0, 6-1 winner on court one to double the Red Hawks' lead. Then,
Kyle Flook was the court five winner by a score of 6-2, 6-3. MLC got on the board with a straight-set win on court two to make it 3-1.
The opposition picked up victories on courts three and six, but Mooney's triumph on court four secured the win for the Red Hawks.
Against Crown (1-4), the outcome was never in doubt. Rondestvedt and Richter picked up a 6-2 doubles win on the second court, while Mooney and Tines cruised to a 6-1 court three victory as the Red Hawks earned the doubles point.
In singles, Ripon breezed to five straight-set wins. Sippel was a 6-0, 6-3 winner on court one, while Rondestvedt had little problem with Crown on court three, winning 6-0, 6-1. Mooney earned his fourth combined win of the day with a 7-5, 6-1 triumph on the fourth line and Richter was a 6-3, 6-2 winner on court six.
To finish off the win, Flook rallied for a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 win on court five.
NEXT UP: Ripon hosts its home opener on Saturday, February 22 as the Red Hawks compete against Concordia University Chicago (9 a.m.) and Dubuque (3 p.m.).
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