RIPON, Wis. -- The Ripon College men's tennis team split their matches this Saturday, Feb 21, defeating Concordia Chicago (0-6, 0-0 NACC) before falling to UW-Superior (5-4, 0-0 UMAC). Seniors Caleb Sippel (Appleton, Wis., Appleton North HS) and Austin Stevens (Mukwonago, Wis., Mukwonago HS) led the way for the Red Hawks in singles, winning both their matches on the day at the 1 and 2 spots, respectively. 

Against the Cougars, Ripon jumped out to an early advantage, capturing the doubles point with close wins at the 1 and 2 flights. Sippel, partnering with sophomore Kyle Flook (Sheboygan, Wis., Sheboygan South HS) at the top flight, carved out a 6-3 win, while Stevens and partner Ryan Richter (Plainfield, Ill., Plainfield Central HS) held strong deep in the set to capture a 7-5 victory at 2. 

In singles, following straight set wins from Sippel and Stevens, Flook would come up big at the 4 spot, coming back from a set down to force a third behind a 7-5 second set win. Outlasting his opponent, Flook earned the 10-8 win in the super tiebreak, while teammate Corey Mooney (Greenfield, Wis., Greenfield HS) looked to do the same at 3 singles. Dropping the second set by a single break of serve, Mooney found himself in a tight third, going the distance with his opponent before narrowly earning an 11-9 win for the Red Hawks.

Coming off the 5-2 win against CUC, Ripon looked to preserve momentum in the opening against UW-Superior. Sippel and Flook played a back-and-forth contest at the top doubles flight, falling 5-7 after impressive exchanges at the net. Despite dropping the doubles point with a loss at 2, Ripon claimed a victory in the opening round at 3, with Mooney and partner Emerson Hendricks (Ripon, Wis., Ripon HS) earning a 6-4 win over the Yellowjackets. 

Singles saw more three-setters for the Red Hawks. After taking the first set 6-1 in rapid fashion, Sippel's match at the top flight entered a deciding third set tiebreak after a second set break of serve. Sippel executed down the stretch, taking advantage of return opportunities to earn a 10-4 win for his team. At 2, Stevens took down the first set, but found himself at the wrong end of a second set tiebreak, forcing a deciding tiebreak immediately after. Stevens refocused well, staying steady in big points and taking the 10-6 win. Despite close scorelines and points, the Red Hawks would fall 2-5 to their opponents, ending the day with a win and a loss. 

Ripon men's tennis returns to action next weekend in Neenah, Wis., taking on UW-Stevens Point and Loras. The Pointers enter the contest 4-8 this season, while the Duhawks hold a 3-3 record.