Tennis Tops Knox, Drops Close Matches to Loras
Last weekend Monmouth men’s tennis split a pair of matches. The Scots opened the weekend with an 8-1 drubbing of rival Knox, before falling to Loras the following day 7-2.
Joseph Shie started things off on the right foot for Monmouth as the sophomore won in consecutive sets 6-1 and 6-2. Freshman brother Andrew Shie followed suit with 6-2, 6-3 wins to keep the momentum rolling.
The No. 3 match saw Zach Harris win all but one game. The Scots lone defeat came in the No. 4 match, when Alex Martin narrowly lost. The three set match saw martin lose set on 6-2 before flipping the score for a 6-2 win in set two. The all-deciding third set saw the score flip once again as Martin fell 6-2.
Monmouth didn’t let the loss affect them as they cruised to 6-0, 6-0 wins by Brendan Guenther in No. 5 singles and Nicholas Robertson the No. 6 singles match 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles play was all Scots. Joseph Shie and Zach Harris won 8-2. No. 2 doubles of Guenther and Andrew Shie eked out a close 8-6 win. Martin and Robertson rounded out play with an 8-4 win for the sweep of doubles play.
Narrow losses the following day were the difference in the matches against Loras.
Joseph Shie picked up the first win of the day breezing to wins in 6-0, 6-2. The No. 2 singles match didn’t prove to be as easy. All three sets went the distance as Andrew Shie dropped set on 7-6, before bouncing back to win set two 7-6. Set three was just as tight though this time Shie fell 10-7.
The Scotts got back on track in the No. 3 match for singles play. Zach Harris won in consecutive sets 6-2, 6-1. Alex Martin was bested 6-1, 6-3 to even the score.
Loras captured wins in the No. 5 and 6 singles matches. Brendan Guenther went the distance in set one before falling 7-5. He followed that up with a 6-2 loss in set two. Nicholas Robertson fell quickly, losing 6-1, 6-0.
Monmouth dropped all three of the dou-bles matches, but came close in one. Joseph Shie and Zach Harris were just short of victory falling 8-7 in the No. 1 doubles match.
Up next tennis takes on Ripon and Lake
forest on Sat.
TATE HEIPLE
Sports Editor