DES MOINES — Starting the season with an exclusively freshman lineup on the road, the Central College men's tennis team lost 6-1 at Grand View University Wednesday.

Nine new freshmen joined the Dutch program this fall and coach Ryun Ferrell decided to give them an early taste of college tennis.

"I took the nine freshmen because I need to see what I have in this class," he said. "Grand View's coach was willing to let me bring nine freshmen. I was quite impressed with what we had from those nine. We were a little jumpy in the beginning but once they settled down they looked pretty good."

Five of the newcomers played singles and the other four played doubles together. Central lost the five singles matches played and took its lone point as a forfeit at No. 6. Mason McBratney (freshman, Kansas City, Mo, Platte County HS) pushed the No. 5 singles match into a tie breaker before losing 4-6, 7-5, 10-5.

"He was even up a break serving for the match but couldn't quite put it away," Ferrell said.

Central also had a forfeit win in No. 3 doubles but the three doubles matches are only worth one point against NAIA opponents.

The Vikings used a veteran lineup against the young Dutch.

"We were not intimidated by their senior-laden lineup," Ferrell said. "Grand View would try to push us, and we'd push right back."
           
The Dutch are slated to compete at the Cornell Invitational at Mount Vernon on Sunday. Matches in the individual bracket tournament start at 10 a.m.