The Johnnie tennis team travels to face St. Scholastica in a non-conference match at noon this Sunday, March 30, at the Arrowhead Tennis and Athletic Club in Duluth.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: No. 18 Gustavus Adolphus displayed its national ranking with a 9-0 win over Saint John's (4-5, 0-2 MIAC) last Saturday (March 22) at Fitness Evolution in Sartell. The Gusties won all six singles matches in straight sets. A pair of Johnnies, sophomore Jack Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) and junior Jordan Otto (Rice, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral), reached the four-point threshold in their first sets, at Nos. 1 and 4, respectively. Seniors Joe Laue (St. Louis Park, Minn./Holy Angels) and Connor Rust (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) tallied the closest match in doubles play at No. 2, 8-5.
A LOOK AT THE SAINTS: St. Scholastica (11-3, 2-0 UMAC) enters Saturday's conference match with Northwestern, prior to playing SJU Sunday, riding a seven-match win streak. The Saints are 3-2 against MIAC schools so far this spring: Feb. 1 (7-2 win over Hamline, 5-4 loss to Bethel); Feb. 9 (5-4 win over Carleton); Feb. 15 (9-0 loss to Gustavus Adolphus); and Feb. 16 (9-0 win over Concordia-Moorhead). The team's strength so far this spring has been at Nos. 4-6 singles (34-8 record, .810) and in doubles competition (33-9, .786): No. 1 (11-3 record), No. 2 (10-4) and No. 3 (12-2). CSS set program records for wins in a season (20), singles' wins in a season (123), doubles' wins in a season (58) and best singles' winning percentage (.707) in 2013.
LAST YEAR'S MATCH: SJU posted a 7-2 win over St. Scholastica last spring (April 23) at Fitness Evolution. The Johnnies swept all three doubles matches and ended St. Scholastica's streak of six consecutive 9-0 wins with the victory. Fabricio Moncada '13 improved to 18-5 overall in singles competition and 13-4 at No. 1 with a 6-2 and 6-1 victory. Senior Connor Rust (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) won at No. 2 (6-0, 6-3) and Hansen posted a victory at No. 4 (6-1, 6-3). Zach Shriwise '13 won the Johnnies' other singles match at No. 5 (6-4, 7-5). The Johnnies are 24-1 all-time against St. Scholastica, with the lone loss (5-4) occurring Feb. 8, 2003, in Duluth.
