Men's Tennis News Releases
Rams rally for 5-4 win over Westminster
Coming up - Saturday, March 21, at Milwaukee, Wis., vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering, 9 a.m., vs. Beloit, 12 p.m.
Ram review - Junior Ryan Walden (Edina, Minn./Edina) prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker to propel Cornell to a 5-4 come-from-behind nonconference victory over Westminster Saturday in Mount Vernon. The Rams dropped the second half of Saturday's double dual with a 6-3 Iowa Conference setback to Wartburg.
Cornell (4-12 overall, 1-4 IIAC) overcame a 4-3 deficit against Westminster (1-2), which beat the Rams 9-0 last spring in Fulton, Mo. Cornell junior Brandon Wolff (Keokuk/Keokuk) scored a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles to even the dual at 4-4. The dual came down to the final match at No. 5 singles between Walden and Patrick Duffy. Walden fell 6-1 in the first set, but rebounded with a 6-2 win in the second set and then took the tiebreaker, 10-7.
Courtland Olson (Afton, Minn./Woodbury) went 2-0 against Westminster, scoring an 8-6 win with Neal Klauer (Fridley, Minn./Fridley) at No. 2 doubles and receiving a forfeit at No. 6 singles. Cornell also won by default at No. 3 doubles.
Walden and Olson picked up wins against Wartburg (7-4, 2-0 IIAC) at No. 5 and 6 singles. Walden and Wolff claimed a 9-7 victory at No. 3 doubles, raising their season record to 5-4. Walden improved to 7-6 this season in singles play.
Wartburg 6, Cornell 3 (March 14, at Mount Vernon)
Singles - Mitch Eslick (War) def. Kris Andresen 6-2, 6-4; Chris Buckingham (War) def. John Mineck 6-1, 6-0; Tom Koenen (War) def. Neal Klauer 6-2, 6-1; Andrew Kahler (War) def. Brandon Wolff 7-5, 4-6, 10-5; Ryan Walden (Cor) def. James Nguyen 6-1, 6-4; Courtland Olson (Cor) def. Aaron Masterson 6-1, 6-0. Doubles - Eslick/Koenen (War) def. Andresen/Mineck 8-6; Kahler/Nguyen (War) def. Klauer/Olson 8-6; Wolff/Walden (Cor) def. Buckingham/Masterson 9-7.
Cornell 5, Westminster (Mo.) 4 (March 14, at Mount Vernon)
Singles - Cooper Payne (WCMT) def. Andresen 6-2, 6-4; Andrew Darkow (WCMT) def. Mineck 6-3, 6-1; David Berry (WCMT) def. Klauer 7-5, 0-6, 10-3; Wolff (Cor) def. Justin Arnold 6-4, 6-3; Walden (Cor) def. Patrick Duffy 1-6, 6-2, 10-7; Olson (Cor) won by default. Doubles - Payne/Darkow (WCMT) def. Andresen/Mineck 8-1; Klauer/Olson (Cor) def. Berry/Arnold 8-6; (Cor) won by default.
