The men’s tennis team split a pair of home matches last weekend, defeating Monmouth 4-3 on Friday and losing to rival Ripon 6-1 on Saturday. The loss to Ripon puts LU at 1-2 in the North Division of the Midwest Conference, a game-and-a-half behind the Redhawks and St. Norbert. The top two teams in each division will advance to the team portion of the Midwest Conference Championships April 28-30 in Madison.
The Vikings won 4-3 on Friday behind the 2-3-4 core of its lineup. Number one singles player Fabrice Munyakazi Juru lost his match 6-0 and 6-4. Number two Nick Beyler won 7-5, 6-0, Number three Brian Hilgeman won 6-4, 5-7, 10-8, and number four Alex Weck won 6-0, 7-6 (9-7). The Vikings gained the doubles point by winning two of their three doubles matches, with Munyakazi Juru and Ryan Bly winning at two doubles as well as Weck and Nate Kish winning at number three.
On Saturday the Vikings ran into a tough Ripon squad. The lone Viking to win his match was Midwest Conference Player of the week Nick Beyler, who won in straight sets 6-3 and 7-5. All three doubles teams narrowly lost their matches 6-8.
The Vikings embark on a very tough road trip to Iowa this weekend. They face Coe College this afternoon and play Grinnell and Luther tomorrow.
Vikings split weekend pair
