Saint John's tennis travels to Florida for five matches over spring break March 4-8 in the Orlando area.

THE SCHEDULE IN FLORIDA
-Monday, March 4: 11 a.m. ET vs. Division I North Carolina A&T, USTA National Campus in Orlando; and 6 p.m. ET vs. Allegheny (Pa.), USTA National Campus in Orlando
-Wednesday, March 6: 10 a.m. ET vs. Division II Cedarville (Ohio), Oak Street Park in Kissimmee
-Thursday, March 7: 12 p.m. ET vs. Wheaton (Ill.), Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs
-Friday, March 8: 11 a.m. ET vs. Ursinus (Pa.), USTA National Campus in Orlando

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (1-0, 1-0 MIAC) started its 2024 season with a 6-3 win over Hamline last Saturday (Feb. 24) at Sta-Fit in Sartell. Hamline gained a 2-1 lead at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, but the Johnnies won five of the six singles matches for the victory.

Senior Will Deters (Minneapolis, Minn./Wayzata) and freshman Alex Draeger (Litchfield, Minn.) denied the Pipers a doubles sweep with an 8-6 win at No. 3.

Junior Ryan Will (Northfield, Minn.) played his first match at No. 1 singles and earned the win via the super-breaker. He dropped the first set 6-2, but bounced back with a 7-6 (7-2) victory in the second and posted a 10-4 score in the super-breaker.

The other four SJU singles wins were in straight sets: freshman Sam Wolden (St. Louis Park, Minn.) at No. 3; senior Daniel Perez (Quito, Ecuador) at No. 4; senior Mason Meyer (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) at No. 5; and senior Mark Rosen (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) at No. 6.

SJU's lone singles loss was senior Ian Aadland (Brainerd, Minn.) via the super-breaker at No. 2.

LAST YEAR'S TRIP: The Johnnies went 1-5 during last year's spring-break trip in the Orlando area on March 5-10 (2023). Five Johnnies won two matches or more on the trip, led by Rosen and his 4-2 mark in singles play. Aadland went 2-2 in doubles and 2-1 in singles, while Joe Dwyer '23 posted a 2-0 record in doubles competition and Will was 2-3 in singles play.

THE OPPONENTS
-Division I North Carolina A&T: The Aggies are 5-0 to open their 2024 season…fifth-year senior Esteban Lopez holds a record of 5-0 at No. 1 singles and 4-1 at No. 1 doubles…last season, Lopez went 11-7 at No. 1 singles and 10-7 at No.1 doubles.

-Allegheny (Pa.): The Gators are 2-2 and start their trip Monday vs. Adrian (Mich.) before facing SJU that evening…junior Anton Hedlund was the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Player of the Year in 2023 and has a 2-2 record at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles this spring…sophomore David Rodriguez was an All-PAC first-team selection in doubles with Hedlund and second team in singles last season.

-Division II Cedarville (Ohio): The Yellow Jackets are 7-4 and play two matches on Monday before taking on SJU Wednesday morning…junior Nathan Hollis is 4-7, all at No. 1 singles, after going 2-2 last year at No. 2…senior Nathan Brumbaugh is 7-4 at No. 2 singles and 7-2 at No. 1 doubles, where he went 9-8 last season.

-Wheaton (Ill.): The Thunder are 3-3 and finish up their trip against the Johnnies Thursday afternoon…senior Jack Booker was an All-CCIW second-team honoree last season with a 6-12 record at No. 1 singles and a 9-10 mark at No. 1 doubles…senior Cody Ching earned All-CCIW first-team honors in 2022 and was a second-team selection in 2021…Ching is 1-3 in singles play (1-1 at No. 4 and 0-2 at No. 5) and 3-3 in doubles (2-3 at No. 1, 1-1 at No. 2) so far in 2024.

-Ursinus (Pa.): Ursinus posted a 1-1 record in the fall and opens its spring season in Florida…the Bears return three-time All-Centennial selection Lars Jespersen (2023 doubles honorable mention, 2022 second team, 2021 honorable mention), who is currently 0-1 at No. 1 singles after going 10-7 at that spot a year ago. 

SERIES HISTORIES: Three of the five opponents next week are new for SJU on the tennis court. One of the familiar faces is Cedarville, which SJU has a 1-4 record against: 2015 (L, 3-6); 2017 (L, 3-6); 2018 (W, 8-1); 2020 (L, 2-5); and 2023 (L, 1-6). The other is Allegheny, which handed the Johnnies a 9-0 loss back in 2000.