OWATONNA, Minn. -- The Ripon College men's tennis team split a pair of matches during its weekend trip to Minnesota, falling 6-1 to the University of Northwestern before edging Buena Vista 4-3 on Saturday to close out the weekend.

Ripon 1, Northwestern 6

Ripon struggled against Northwestern, dropping all three doubles matches to fall behind early. Singles play saw junior Corey Mooney (Greenfield, Wis., Greenfield HS) earn the team's lone point with a straight-set victory at No. 3, but Northwestern took the remaining five singles matches to secure the win.

Ripon 4, Buena Vista 3

Ripon bounced back in a nail-biting match against Buena Vista. The Red Hawks captured two doubles matches, including a dominant 6-1 win at No. 1 from senior Caleb Sippel (Appleton, Wis., Appleton North HS) and sophomore Kyle Flook (Sheboygan, Wis., Sheboygan South HS) and a 7-6 (7-2) triumph at No. 3 from Mooney and freshman Emerson Hendricks (Ripon, Wis., Ripon HS).

Singles play was tightly contested, with Ripon claiming three of the six matches to clinch the overall win. Sippel cruised at No. 1 with a 6-1, 6-0 victory, while senior Austin Stevens (Mukwonago, Wis., Mukwonago HS) edged out a thrilling 6-4, 6-7 (11-9) win at No. 2. Mooney also battled through a tense 6-4, 5-7, 10-8 victory at No. 3.

The Red Hawks return home to welcome Grinnell and Cornell on Apr 4, for their Senior Day. Match play starts at 9am against Grinnell College.