RIPON, Wisconsin – The Ripon men's tennis program split a pair of matches in its home opener on Saturday, defeating Concordia University Chicago 5-2 before dropping a 6-1 decision to Dubuque inside the Willmore Center.
With Saturday's opening win, Ripon (3-3) equaled their 2023-24 win total in just five matches and earned its first three-match winning streak since the 2021-22 campaign.
The Red Hawks jumped on CUC (0-4) early, sweeping all three doubles courts to take a 1-0 lead.
Ty Rondestvedt and
Corey Mooney made quick work of their court two opponents in a 6-1 win, while
Caleb Sippel and
Austin Stevens clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win on the top line. To finish off doubles,
Jaden Francis and
Ethan Tines defeated their opponents 6-2 on the third court.
In singles, Sippel doubled the lead with a quick 6-0, 6-0 win on court one. Then, Mooney brought Ripon closer to victory with a straight-set, 6-1, 6-4 win on the fourth line. To clinch the match, Stevens took care of his opponent on court two in a 6-4, 6-2 victory before Rondestvedt won a 6-7, 6-1, [10-4] three-set match on court three.
With the outcome in hand, Concordia Chicago picked up wins on courts five and six to close out the match.
Against Dubuque (4-5), the Spartans took an early 1-0 lead by claiming the doubles point. Sippel and Stevens were 6-4 winners on court one, but UD picked up 6-3 and 6-0 victories on the second and third courts.
In singles, the visitors clinched the match with straight-set wins on courts one and six in addition to a three-set triumph on court five. With the outcome in hand, Dubuque also took courts two and three before Mooney picked up a point for Ripon on court four (6-0, 6-4).
NEXT UP: Ripon hosts Wisconsin Lutheran at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 1.
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