The SJU tennis team wraps up its regular-season schedule with a pair of road contests this weekend. The Johnnies travel to face St. Olaf for a 5 p.m. match today at the Owatonna Tennis Center and end MIAC play with a 1 p.m. match Saturday against Macalester at St. Paul Highland Park High School.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (6-9, 4-3 MIAC) fell to St. Cloud State 5-4 in the Johnnies' home finale this past Tuesday in St. Joseph. Junior Fabricio Moncada (Managua, Nicaragua/Lincoln International Academy) and senior Ian Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) continued their winning ways at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively. Moncada cruised to a straight-set victory (6-3, 6-3), while Hansen earned a hard-fought win thanks to a 10-8 decision in the super-breaker. Both are 10-3 (6-1 MIAC) in singles play this season. The two also teamed up to tally a convincing 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles. Senior John Burns (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) and junior Willie Paul (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) recorded the Johnnies' other win with extra effort at No. 3 doubles, 9-8 (7-2).
MIAC TOURNAMENT: Saint John's has already clinched a spot in next weekend's six-team MIAC Tournament, which is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 4-5, on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter.
A LOOK AT THE OLES: St. Olaf (13-2, 6-1 MIAC) claimed five wins in singles competition in a 6-3 win over Saint Mary's on April 21. The Oles have now won eight of their last nine matches. The team's strength seems to be at Nos. 2-6 singles (a combined 59-16 record, .787) as STO is just 7-8 at No. 1. Stephen Nolan is 8-0 at No. 2, while Andy Catania is 8-1 at No. 3. Catania and John Wight are 10-3 at No. 1 doubles. The Johnnies aim to end a four-match losing streak to St. Olaf today.
THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's lost to St. Olaf by a 6-3 decision last April 9 (2011) in St. Joseph. All three SJU victories were earned via the super-breaker in singles competition. Moncada won at No. 1 (6-1, 5-7, 10-5) and sophomore Joe Laue (St. Louis Park, Minn./Holy Angels) posted a victory in his match at No. 3 singles (5-7, 6-3, 10-3). Junior Zach Shriwise (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) earned the Johnnies' other win with a 3-6, 6-3 and 11-9 win at No. 6 singles.
A LOOK AT THE SCOTS: Macalester (8-9, 3-4 MIAC) recorded four wins in singles play to top Saint Mary's 5-4 April 22. Evan Elderbrock won at No. 2, Stephen Tyndel at No. 3, Max Edwards at No. 4 and Max Soghikian at No. 6. Edwards and Soghikian won at No. 3 doubles to improve to 11-4 on the year. Edwards leads the team with a 12-4 record (11-4 at No. 4) in singles competition. SJU has lost each of the last two meetings with Mac by a 5-4 score.
THE LAST MEETING: Macalester won matches at Nos. 1 and 2 singles via the super-breaker to defeat Saint John's 5-4 last March 26 (2011). Michael Coleman defeated Moncada (6-0, 5-7, 10-5) at No. 1 singles and Chris Fowler edged Hansen (1-6, 7-5, 10-8) at No. 2. Elliott Elm '11 won a hard-fought decision at No. 3 singles [7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (5-7), 10-3], while Laue and sophomore Connor Rust (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) posted wins at Nos. 4 and 5 singles, respectively. The Scots upset Hansen and Moncada at No. 1 doubles, 8-6.
