The LU men’s tennis team cruised to an easy 7-0 win over Marian last Thursday before losing a heartbreaker to Beloit on Sunday, 4-3.
The Vikings didn’t drop a single set while coasting to a win over the Sabres. Chuck Bergs managed to get Marian’s highest score of the day in his 3-6 first-set loss to junior Alex Weck, but no other Sabre managed to break two games in a set in singles play.
Lawrence traveled to Beloit on Sunday for its final dual match of the season. Though the Vikings managed to win the doubles point and the top two singles points, Beloit snatched the final four singles points to take the match 4-3. Junior fifth-singles player Nathan Kish was unable to play due to illness, which meant sophomore Ryan Bly had to step in and play his second-ever singles match. Bly almost managed to be the hero of the day, winning his first set 6-2, before dropping the second set and losing a heart-wrenching third set tiebreaker.
Despite the close loss, the Vikings have been putting the finishing touches on their games in practice and have high expectations for this weekend’s conference tournament in Madison. Singles play starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, with doubles to follow on Sunday.