Men's Tennis rolls to season-opening win over Ripon

JACKSON, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Tennis team rolled to an 8-1 non-conference victory over Ripon College Friday night. The matchup at the Pleasant Valley Tennis & Fitness Club was the spring season-opener for the Falcons.

CUW picked up wins in five of six singles matches and added a sweep in doubles play for the easy victory. Two of the Falcons wins, one in singles and one in doubles play, were by default.

In doubles play, the number one team of senior Benjamin Nommensen (Waupaca, Wis.) and freshman Ceejay Schaffner (Winona, Minn.) picked up a 9-7 win over Ripon's top duo. Senior Steven Fritz (Berwyn, Ill.) and freshman Ryan Rogers (Iron River, Mich.) added an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles, while the No. 3 team of sophomore Trevor Budewitz and freshman Nick Gold (Waukesha, Wis.) won by default.

Ripon's lone win in singles play came at No. 1, but the Falcons were able to gain wins at the two through five spots, and added a default victory at No. 6 singles. Schaffner and sophomore Jonathan Schotte (Preston, Kan.) were dominant in their wins at No. 4 and 5 singles, respectively, each rolling to a 6-0, 6-0 victory.

Budewitz (Watertown, Wis.) picked up a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles, while Fritz added a hard fought 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles. Rogers was the winner by default in the No. 6 position.

The win was also the first for head coach Steven Anschutz as he is in his first season leading the Men's Tennis team.

The Falcons will be back in action next Friday night when they host St. Norbert College at the Paley Tennis Center in Glendale, Wis. Action is set to get underway at 7 p.m.