Men's Tennis News Releases
Coming up — Saturday, March 1, at Monmouth, Monmouth, Ill., 1 p.m.
Ram review – Cornell (1-4 overall, 1-2 Iowa Conference) picked up its first win of 2008 and snapped a nine-match losing skid dating back to last season with a 5-4 triumph over league foe Loras Feb. 16 in Decorah. The Rams fell 9-0 to UW-Eau Claire on Feb. 15 and dropped a 9-0 decision to host Luther on Feb. 16.
Cornell and Loras were tied at 3-3 after singles play. The Rams received straight-set wins from sophomore Jay Welvaert (Moline, Ill./Moline) at No. 1, junior Bryan Henderson (Coleraine, North Ireland/Coleraine) at No. 2 and junior Courtland Olson (Afton, Minn./Woodbury) at No. 6.
Welvaert and Henderson scored an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles and the Rams sealed the dual victory with an 8-6 decision from the No. 3 team of Olson and sophomore Brandon Wolff (Keokuk/Keokuk).
The Rams, who were beaten twice by Loras last season, notched their first dual win since beating Clarke 9-0 at home on April 13, 2007.
Henderson was a bright spot for the Rams in the loss against defending IIAC champion Luther. He was edged in a competitive three-set match to Matt Olson, 4-6, 6-2, 10-8.
Luther 9, Cornell 0 (Feb. 16, at Decorah)
Singles – Samriddh Burman (Lut) def. Jay Welvaert 6-0, 6-1; Matt Olson (Lut) def. Bryan Henderson 4-6, 6-2, 10-8; Mark Mateski (Lut) def. Seth Henson 6-1, 6-3; Alex Spilde (Lut) def. John Mineck 6-0, 6-0; Steven Holt (Lut) def. Courtland Olson 6-0, 6-2; Jacob Reitz (Lut) def. Brandon Wolff 6-1, 6-2. Doubles – Burman/Scott Martin (Lut) def. Welvaert/Henderson 8-3; Olson/Holt (Lut) def. Henson/Mineck 8-2; Mateski/Reitz (Lut) def. Wolff/Olson 8-1.
Cornell 5, Loras 4 (Feb. 16, at Decorah)
Singles – Welvaert (Cor) def. Andy Behan 6-1, 6-2; Henderson (Cor) def. Jared Levy 6-4, 6-2; Tom Strumpf (Lor) def. Henson 6-1, 6-4; John D’Orazio (Lor) def. Mineck 6-2, 6-0; Digger Kurt (Lor) def. Wolff 6-4, 4-6, 12-10; Olson (Cor) def. Adam Holland 6-2, 7-5. Doubles – Welvaert/Henderson (Cor) def. Behan/D’Orazio 8-2; Strumpf/Levy (Lor) def. Henson/Mineck 9-7; Wolff/Olson (Cor) def. Kurt/Holland 8-6.
UW-Eau Claire 9, Cornell 0 (Feb. 15, at Decorah)
Singles – Steve Lantz (EC) def. Welvaert 6-0, 6-0; Kevin Fawcett (EC) def. Henderson 6-3, 6-1; Phil Loprinzi (EC) def. Henson 6-0, 6-0; Erik Brandner (EC) def. Mineck 6-0, 6-1; Lars Olson (EC) def. Olson 6-1, 6-0; Brett Gressick (EC) def. Wolff 6-1, 6-1. Doubles – Lantz/Loprinzi (EC) def. Welvaert/Henderson 8-4; C.J. Rose/Eric Wollum (EC) def. Henson/Mineck 8-1; Aaron Johnson/Mike Olson (EC) def. Olson/Wolff 8-2.
