Results
ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Saint John's tennis earned a 6-3 win over Macalester in the MIAC Playoff quarterfinal on Wednesday, May 4, at the CSB Tennis Courts in St. Joseph.
The Johnnies (10-8, 5-4 MIAC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a sweep of doubles competition and split the six singles matches. SJU defeated the Scots (10-9, 5-4 MIAC) by a 7-2 score earlier this season (April 10) in St. Paul.
SJU advances to face No. 18 Gustavus Adolphus (22-7, 9-0 MIAC) in the MIAC Playoff semifinals at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, at the Brown Tennis Courts in St. Peter.
Senior
Jack Hansen (Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd) and sophomore
Tim Larson (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) won at No. 1 doubles by a 9-7 score, while seniors
Ben Lahren (Wausau, Wis./West) and
Andrew Nagel (Maple Grove, Minn.) won their 10th consecutive match at No. 2 (10-1 record), 8-2.
The freshman duo of
Ryan Meger (Stillwater, Minn./Mahtomedi) and
Jonah Punnoose (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) completed the sweep with a 9-7 victory at No. 3.
Larson improved to 13-4 on the year with a win at No. 2 singles, 6-3 and 6-4. The freshmen came through again for SJU, as Meger (6-3 and 6-4) and Punnoose (7-5 and 6-3) recorded points five and six at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively.