PELLA — Finally playing on its home surface, the Central College men's tennis squad defeated Concordia University (Neb.) 7-2 Saturday.
           
The win moves Central to 1-3 on the season, while dropping Concordia to 1-1.
           
"It could have gone either way really," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "For as young as we are, we were just a little more disciplined than them. We stayed to our plans and that was the difference."
           
Of Central's five singles wins, Ferrell highlighted Kris Weeden's (junior, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) 6-2, 4-6, 11-9 triumph at No. 4 for the junior's grit.
           
"He played tough," Ferrell said. "No. 4 singles is a tough place because you might run into some guys that grind or you can run into some guys that can hit the ball hard. His opponent tonight could definitely crush the ball. Kris stuck with it and didn't quit."
           
Weeden and Brad DiLeo (freshman, Iowa City, West HS) also won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles to provide one of two doubles win for the Dutch. The No. 3 team of Ethan St. John (sophomore, Crystal Lake, Ill., Central HS) and Josh Phillips (senior, Morton, Ill.) also won 8-5.
           
"If you can get two out of three doubles, you're going to win the match 60 percent of the time," Ferrell said. "I feel pretty good about us being able to get three singles wins somewhere in our lineup. It's not like we're top-heavy or bottom-heavy, we have a lot of solid players all the way through."
           
William Isiminger (sophomore, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) and David Boschma (sophomore, Olathe, Kan., Northwest HS) also provided singles wins at the top of the lineup. DiLeo and St. John won at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
           
Next Saturday, Central will host Doane College (Neb.) and Saint Ambrose University in a triangular, starting at 9 a.m.
           
"We played them both with split squads last year, beating St. Ambrose and losing to Doane," Ferrell said. "Hopefully, we'll be ready to go and be able to do some damage."