Saint John's hosts three matches this weekend at Fitness Evolution in Sartell, beginning with a rescheduled 7:30 p.m. contest against Hamline tonight. The Johnnies then host St. Thomas at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, and Macalester at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (3-10, 3-2 MIAC) snapped an eight-match losing skid with a 6-3 win over Saint Mary's last Sunday, April 14, in Sartell. For just the second time this season, SJU swept all three doubles matches en route to the win. Senior Fabricio Moncada (Managua, Nicaragua/Lincoln International Academy) and freshman Jack Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) tallied the Johnnies' second win of the season at No. 1 doubles with a 9-8 decision, 7-3 in the tie-breaker. Junior Connor Rust (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) and freshman Andrew Nagel (Maple Grove, Minn.) cruised to an 8-1 win at No. 2 and seniors Willie Paul (Duluth, Minn./Marshall) and Zach Shriwise (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) won with an 8-6 score at No. 3. Moncada improved to 4-1 in conference play (14-5 overall) and 9-4 at No. 1 singles with a straight-set victory (6-3, 6-2) and Paul did the same at No. 6 (6-3, 6-1). Hansen battled back from a close loss in his first set at No. 4 with a 6-2 decision in the second set and a 10-7 tally in the super-breaker.
REGIONAL RANKINGS: Moncada is currently ranked 10th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region rankings released April 11.
A LOOK AT THE PIPERS: Hamline (2-12, 0-5 MIAC) lost its 10th consecutive match by a 6-3 score to Concordia-Moorhead April 13 in Lakeville. The Pipers dropped two singles matches by 10-7 decisions in the super-breaker. Senior David Croonquist is 8-4 (1-3 MIAC) at No. 1 singles. HU is only 8-34 (2-13 MIAC) in doubles competition this season.
LAST YEAR'S MEETING: Saint John's extended its conference win streak to four matches with a 6-3 victory over Hamline last spring. Moncada won his fifth straight match, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-1, to improve to 14-4 (6-1 MIAC) at No. 1 singles. Rust won his match at No. 4 in straight sets (6-0, 6-1) and Shriwise and Paul won their matches at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, via the super-breaker. Shriwise won his extra set 11-9, while Paul claimed a 13-11 victory.
A LOOK AT THE TOMMIES: St. Thomas (8-3, 5-0 MIAC) continued its hot streak in conference with a 7-2 victory over Bethel on April 15. The Tommies earned victories at No. 2-3-4-5-6 singles in straight sets, while Bethel earned a three-set victory at No. 1 singles.
LAST YEAR: Saint John's dropped a hard-fought 5-4 decision last spring at St. Thomas. The Johnnies swept No. 1, 2 and 3 singles via the super-breaker. Moncada won at No. 1 singles [7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 10-2] while Ian Hansen '12 earned a victory at No. 2 singles [1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-5] to bring his record 5-0 on the season. Laue also earned victory at No. 3 singles (6-4, 2-6, 10-8) for the Johnnies, and later teamed up with Moncada to earn a victory at No. 2 doubles (8-4).
A LOOK AT THE SCOTS: Macalester (5-6, 0-3 MIAC) returns to conference play this weekend after winning three of four matches in Hilton Head, S.C., March 17-22. The Scots are scheduled to play Bethel (April 19) and Hamline (April 20) on the road before visiting Sartell Sunday. Freshman Brian Utz is 7-4 (1-2 MIAC) at No. 1 singles, while senior Stephen Tyndel is 7-2 (1-2 MIAC) at No. 3 and junior Max Soghikian is 7-3 (1-2 MIAC) at No. 4.
LAST SPRING: Saint John's ended the 2012 regular season with its third consecutive 5-4 loss on April 28 to Macalester. Moncada and Ian Hansen '12 led the way with straight-set wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, for SJU. The two also teamed up to tally their fifth straight victory at No. 1 doubles, 8-4. Paul recorded the Johnnies' other win at No. 5 singles (7-5, 6-2).
