Saint John's begins its spring-break trip with an 11 a.m. EST match Saturday, March 23, against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in Kissimmee, Fla.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The Saint John's tennis team (2-4, 2-1 MIAC) suffered a pair of losses in St. Peter last Saturday, March 16. Host Gustavus Adolphus, ranked 17th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national rankings released March 14, posted a 9-0 win over the Johnnies in the first match of the day. Senior Fabricio Moncada (Managua, Nicaragua/Lincoln International Academy), fell to Gustavus' Amrik Donkena, in straight sets (6-4, 6-2). Senior Willie Paul (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) won his first set 7-5 but lost via the super-breaker, 10-6, following a 6-1 decision in the second set. SJU then fell to Elmhurst (Ill.) by a 7-2 score later in the day. Moncada won at No. 1 singles (6-2, 6-4). Like Paul earlier in the day, junior Connor Rust (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) won his first set (6-4) only to lose the second (6-1) and the match via the super-breaker (11-9). Paul and classmate Zach Shriwise (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) tallied the Johnnies' other win with an 8-6 decision at No. 2 doubles.
SPRING BREAK TRIP: The Johnnies are scheduled to play five matches in five days in the Orlando area over spring break March 23-27. Of the five teams, three are scholarship schools and the other two are Division III. Little is known about Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, aside from the Johnnies' 6-3 loss to the team on Feb. 28, 2010, in Puerto Rico. SJU plays Webber International, an NAIA school, March 25. Webber is currently 8-5 on the year with losses to Division I Indiana and Connecticut (UConn).
The Johnnies then face Luther (Iowa), March 26. Luther is currently ranked No. 15, two spots ahead of Elmhurst, in the latest regional rankings. The Norse begins its spring trip March 24 and are 3-5 on the year, including a 7-2 win over St. Olaf in their last match March 16. SJU ends the trip with two matches March 27 against West Alabama and Hamilton (N.Y.). West Alabama, a Division II school, is 13-2 so far this season and Hamilton, a Division III program, is 1-1.
