PELLA—In the team's final match before the Iowa Conference opener, the Central College men's tennis squad grabbed an 8-1 win over Morningside College Friday night.
           
Entering the match with equal amounts of wins and losses, the Dutch (8-7) tipped the scales in the positive direction with a tactical approach.
           
"It maybe wasn't our greatest tennis, but was probably our smartest and toughest tennis yet this season," coach Ryun Ferrell said.
           
A clean sweep of the six singles matches was highlighted by William Isiminger (freshman, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 4, the widest margin of any of Central's triumphs. Ferrell is pleased with what he's seen out of the freshman.
           
"William has had a chip on his shoulder since I've known him when he was 10 years old," he said. "He's an Illinois version of Rafael Nadel in that he tries to win every single point and never backs off even a single iota. He's very cerebral and figures out what he needs to do to beat his opponent."
           
The rest of Central's unblemished singles lineup included Garret Taylor (senior, Creston) at No. 1, Jacob Logan (senior, Bettendorf) at No. 2, Tom Palmer (senior, Pella) at No. 3, C.J. Cliff (senior, Decorah) at No. 5 and David Boschma (freshman, Olathe, Kan., Northwest HS) at No. 6.
           
Logan and Cliff teamed up for an 8-1 win at No. 2 doubles while Boschma and Ethan St. John (freshman, Crystal Lake, Ill., Central HS) won 8-4 in the No. 3 doubles slot.
           
A pair of critical conference matches await the Dutch next weekend when they host Coe College and Buena Vista University on Saturday.
           
"I'd like to think we're prepared and ready to go," Ferrell said. "We've done enough neat things so far this season to put a target on ourselves. The top teams will want to thump us and everyone else will see us as improved. I told the team we've got to expect the best shot from everybody."