MOLINE, ILL. — Playing in two different locations Saturday, the Central College men's tennis team picked up a dramatic 4-3 win at St. Ambrose while losing twice at home.
Central is now 1-4 on the season after the win over the Fighting Bees (0-2). It also lost 7-2 against Midland University (Neb.) and 6-3 against William Jewell University (Mo.)
The only seniors to make the trip to Moline,
Kris Weeden (Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) and
Ben Turnley (Manhattan, Kan.) had three-set victories at the top of the lineup. Weeden won 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 at No. 1 and Turnley won 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 at No. 2.
"They both started slow," coach
Ryun Ferrell said. "They started finding ways to make shots and did a great job. It was great to see them step up."
The match-clinching victory was at No. 6, where
Cade Snakenberg (freshman, Oskaloosa) topped Ryan Wallick 7-5, 7-6.
"He was cramping up pretty big towards the end," Ferrell said. "He came to me after he was down 6-5 in the second set and says 'Coach, I've got to put this thing away.' I told him to settle down and just make some shots and let it come to him a little bit. He played with a ton of heart and I couldn't be more excited for him."
Snakenberg and
Matthew DenAdel (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial HS) were the only doubles team to win for Central against St. Ambrose, winning 7-5 at No. 3. DenAdel topped the No. 5 singles match 6-4, 6-4.
Against Midland,
Trey Melvin (freshman, Lawrence, Kan., Free State HS) won 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (8-1) at No. 6 singles. The No. 3 doubles team of
Ethan St. John (junior, Crystal Lake, Ill., Central HS) and
Tanner Finken (sophomore, Carroll, Kuemper Catholic HS) were also victorious 8-7 (7-3).
In the William Jewell match, Melvin won again at No. 6 singles 8-1. Melvin and
David Boschma (junior, Olathe, Kan., Northwest HS) won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles. St. John was victorious at No. 5 singles 8-6.
"Trey is stepping up big time," Ferrell said. "He doesn't show a lot of emotion, he just goes out and executes. I was pumped for him to have a day like he did today."
The Dutch are headed to Des Moines next Friday for an 11 a.m. match against Grand View University. That match will be held at the Genesis Health Club on Hickman Road in Des Moines.
"Our schedule is tough, but the team is responding well," Ferrell said. "They are taking everything from it they need to in order to get ready for the conference season."
