Saint John's (4-4, 0-2 MIAC) returns to action with two matches this Saturday, March 12, in Winona. The Johnnies are scheduled to take on Saint Mary's at noon, followed by a 3 p.m. match against Ripon (Wis.). Both matches will be held at the Winona Tennis Center.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The Johnnies (4-4 overall, 0-2 MIAC) went 3-1 during their Puerto Rico Spring break trip, Feb. 28-March 4. SJU received solid performances from two of its seniors, Tyler McKay (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) and Luke Odegaard (Forest Lake, Minn.). McKay went 4-0 in doubles competition and 2-1 in singles, while Odegaard posted a 2-2 mark in doubles competition and 2-1 in singles.
Saint John's dropped its first match in Puerto Rico 6-3 before bouncing back with a 5-4 decision over the University of Puerto Rico-Humacao on March 2. Ian Hansen, Elm and Odegaard earned wins at Nos. 2-4 singles, respectively. McKay and sophomore John Burns (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) posted an 8-3 victory at No. 2 doubles, while Odegaard and senior Brian Holmgren (Litchfield, Minn.) teamed up for a 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles. The Johnnies then ended their trip with two consecutive wins.
A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's is currently 4-3 overall with a 1-2 record in the MIAC. The Cardinals jumped swept all three doubles enroute to a 5-4 win over St. Olaf on March 6. The Oles then earned straight-set wins in the first four singles matches to take a 4-3 lead. Freshman Michael Lunka swept past St. Olaf's Knute Gundersen 6-4 and 6-4 at No. 1 singles to tie the match, 4-4. Freshman Sam Puff then rallied from a first-set loss to defeat the Oles' Nick Hubbard-Peters 1-6, 7-6, 10-6 at No. 5 to seal the win.
THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's defeated Saint Mary's 9-0 in the final home match of the 2009 season last April 25. All six singles matches were decided in two sets and only one included a tie-breaker. Ian Hansen won his fifth consecutive match at No. 3, 6-2 and 6-3, and Luke Odegaard posted a 6-0 set victory on the afternoon. SJU has outscored the Cardinals 69-12 in the last eight meetings (8-0 record).
A LOOK AT THE RED HAWKS: Ripon College (Wis.) is searching for its first win of the season as they are currently 0-5 on the year. The Red Hawks are led by a trio of seniors, Jay Hardacre, Jake Knappen and Dan Rodriguez. Head coach Kevin Francis, who was an All-American for the Red Hawks, is in just his second year as head coach and is looking to improve on his team's 5-13 record from last season.
