Saint John's returns to the court this Saturday, March 31, at Bethel. The match is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Ona Orth Complex in Arden Hills.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (3-8, 1-3 MIAC) earned its first MIAC victory with an 8-1 win over Saint Mary's on March 17 in Winona. Junior Fabricio Moncada (Managua, Nicaragua/Lincoln International Academy) and senior Ian Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) posted wins via tie-breakers at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively. Sophomore Joe Laue (St. Louis Park, Minn./Holy Angels) won 10-6 in the super-breaker at No. 3 singles. Sophomore Connor Rust (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) and juniors Zach Shriwise (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) and Willie Paul (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) won their singles' matches in straight sets. Rust and Shriwise posted a 9-7 win at No. 2 doubles, while Paul and senior John Burns (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) won 8-2 at No. 3.
A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel (2-7, 0-3 MIAC) finished its spring break trip with a 2-3 record, winning the first two matches against the College of Staten Island (N.Y.) and Lawrence (Wis.). The Royals lost to Birmingham Southern (Ala.) by a slim 5-4 margin, 7-2 to Colorado College and 8-1 to Oneonta State (N.Y.). The combinations of senior Bryce Johnson and sophomore Steven Schull, and juniors Tucker Morris and Reggie Ronning both earned 8-5 victories at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles, respectively, against CC. Morris and Ronning collected the lone BU victory at No. 1 doubles in the loss to Oneonta State to end the road trip. The Royals face Concordia-Moorhead this Friday, March 30, prior to hosting the Johnnies.
THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's dropped a close 5-4 decision to Bethel last April in St. Joseph. Moncada earned a victory at No. 1 singles (6-1, 6-4), while Laue and Rust earned back-to-back wins at Nos. 4 (6-3, 6-1) and 5 (6-2, 6-4) singles, respectively. Shriwise and Elliott Elm '11 combined for the lone SJU doubles win at No. 2, 8-2. Hansen won his first set at No.2 singles, 6-4, but dropped the next set 6-4 and the super-breaker by a 10-5 decision.
