PELLA—Despite missing several key cogs of the lineup, the Central College men's tennis team found a way to beat Grand View University 6-3 in the first match of the fall season Friday night.
With seniors
C.J. Cliff (Decorah) and
Scott Wilson (Urbandale) studying abroad and classmate
Garret Taylor (Creston) out for health reasons, the Dutch were forced to press some unknown quantities into the lineup, including three freshmen.
"When it's the first match and you play a lot of freshmen and a sophomore, it's going to be interesting to see what you are going to get," coach
Ryun Ferrell said. "It was a nice, solid day."
"For the first match and playing a lot of freshmen and sophomores, it's going to be interesting to see what you are going to get. It was a nice, solid day.
In doubles action, the bottom portion of the Central lineup gave the Dutch a 2-1 lead. An 8-3 victory at No. 3 doubles by
Jackson Lewton (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) and
Jacob Keller (freshman, Olathe, South HS) started the scoring
. Ethan St. John (freshman, Crystal Lake, Central HS) and
Jimmy Cunningham (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) also picked up an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles.
"We looked really good in doubles," Ferrell said. "Everyone played hard."
Freshman
William Isiminger (North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) was victorious in singles during his collegiate debut, battling back to win at No. 3 after dropping the first set 3-6, 6-3, 10-6.
Kris Weeden (sophomore, West Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) was able to pick up a win at No. 4 singles 7-6 (6-2), 6-3 while Lewton triumphed 6-3, 5-7, 11-9 at No. 6.
"The team stepped up nicely in singles," Ferrell said. "We got off to a bit of a slow start, but ended up doing a great job."
Next up on the docket for Central is the Iowa Conference Individual Championships, which will be held next Friday and Saturday in Waterloo.
"We really played today to prepare ourselves for next weekend," Ferrell said. "We'll be ready to take on the rest of the league."
