INDIANOLA — By blanking Simpson College Thursday to the tune of 9-0, the Central College men's tennis team secured a third-place finish in the Iowa Conference.
           
Central (9-14, 6-2 Iowa Conference) has now won four straight matches in conference play and are 5-2 in the month of April. A daunting non-conference slate had the Dutch at 4-13 at the end of March before a roaring finish to the regular season.
           
"It's been nice to see what this team has done," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "It's not easy doing what they did. It's been a tough schedule but we're starting to reap the rewards of it all."
           
After losing three of his last four matches in narrow three-set contests, Garret Taylor (junior, Creston) got over the hump with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles.
           
"He looked really good," Ferrell said. "I was glad to see him finally get the victory that he deserves. To see him when handily in straight sets was nice."

The Dutch breezed through the three doubles matches, winning 8-1 at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. At the top spot, CJ Cliff (junior, Decorah) and Jimmy Cunningham (junior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) were victorious 8-2.

"They came out a little slow," Ferrell said. "Once they got some momentum going they played very well."

With the end of the regular season, Central's focus turns towards the first round of the Iowa Conference tournament. They will meet Loras College in Cedar Rapids next Friday, but not before taking some much-needed rest.

"They're going to get a three-day weekend," Ferrell said. "We've played almost every weekend this semester.

"I'm so proud of this group. We'll get back to work on Monday to get ready for Loras."