Saint John's tennis plays two more matches this weekend, beginning with a 2 p.m. bout with St. Olaf on Saturday, April 13, at the Chang Tennis Complex in Collegeville. The Johnnies then travel to face Macalester at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 14, in St. Paul.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (2-7, 2-2 MIAC) went 1-1 in conference matches last weekend at Sta-Fit in Sartell.

No. 12 Gustavus Adolphus 9, at Saint John's 0
The Gusties won all six singles matches in straight sets last Saturday (April 6). Senior Mark Rosen (Bloomington, Minn.) recorded the closest outcome for SJU at No. 6 (6-4, 6-4). Senior Ian Aadland (Brainerd, Minn.) and junior Ryan Will (Northfield, Minn.) suffered an 8-6 loss at No. 1 doubles.

at Saint John's 7, Concordia-Moorhead 2
SJU snapped a six-match skid with a 7-2 win over Concordia on Sunday (April 7). The Johnnies found themselves down 2-1 after doubles competition but swept all six singles matches, including two via the super-breaker.
 
The Cobbers posted 8-5 and 8-3 wins at Nos. 1-2 doubles, respectively, before senior Will Deters (Minneapolis, Minn./Wayzata) and freshman Alex Draeger (Litchfield, Minn.) put SJU on the scoreboard with an 8-4 decision at No. 3.

Will won his first set at No. 1 singles 6-3 but dropped his second with a 6-2 score. He battled back with a nail-biting 12-10 victory in the super-breaker.

Senior Mason Meyer (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) suffered a narrow 7-6 (7-5) defeat in his first set at No. 5, but clawed back with a 6-0 shutout in the second and a 10-8 decision in the super-breaker.

The other four Johnnies posted single-set wins: Aadland at No. 2 (6-4, 7-5); freshman Sam Wolden (St. Louis Park, Minn.) at No. 3 (6-3, 6-0); senior Daniel Perez (Quito, Ecuador) at No. 4 (6-2, 6-2); and Rosen at No. 6 (6-3, 6-2).

A LOOK AT THE OLES: Saturday's match is the first for St. Olaf (2-9, 1-3 MIAC) since it went 0-4 March 25-28 in Florida. The 2023 MIAC Rookie of the Year, sophomore Bogdan Vizoli finished 6-7 at No. 1 singles, after starting the year at No. 2, and also posted a 7-13 (4-5 MIAC) mark at No. 1 doubles on his way to earning All-MIAC honors in both competitions last spring. He is currently 6-5 (2-2 MIAC) in singles and 5-6 (2-2 MIAC) in doubles in 2024. 

LAST YEAR: The Johnnies posted a 6-3 win over St. Olaf back on March 18 (2023) at Sta-Fit. SJU collected victories at Nos. 1-2 doubles and Nos. 3-6 singles in the victory, which ended a five-match skid.

Aadland and Wil McDowell '23 tallied an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles and the duo consisting of Will and Peyton Fischer '23 cruised to an 8-1 decision at No. 2.

The Oles' two singles wins were both via the super-breaker at Nos. 1 and 2.

SJU won the other four singles matches in straight sets: Hunter Fischer '23 at No. 3 (6-3 and 6-4); Will at No. 4 (6-3 and 6-1); Perez at No. 5 (6-3 and 6-2); and Rosen at No. 6 (6-4 and 6-1).

SERIES HISTORY: SJU leads the series against STO with a 24-22 record since 1981, including an 11-9 mark at home. The Johnnies have won each of the last seven meetings overall.

A LOOK AT THE SCOTS: Macalester (6-6, 3-1 MIAC) ran its win streak to four matches with a 9-0 shutout of Saint Mary's yesterday (April 11) in St. Paul. The Scots are led by junior Alec Sargent, who earned All-MIAC honors in both singles and doubles after finishing 5-8 (4-3 MIAC) at No. 1 singles and 9-9 (6-3 MIAC) at No. 1 doubles. The Scots host Carleton Saturday before SJU on Sunday.

LAST SEASON: SJU dropped a competitive match to Macalester, 8-1, last April 15 (2023) at Sta-Fit. Aadland and McDowell recorded the lone win for SJU at No. 1 doubles, 8-4, to improve to 6-3 (4-2 MIAC) on the year. The Johnnies suffered 8-5 losses in the other two doubles matches.

SJU won three points or more in 11 of the 13 singles sets to the Scots. Perez took his first set at No. 5 singles, 6-1, but his opponent escaped with a 7-5 decision in the second and a 11-9 score in the super-breaker. Rosen lost both sets at No. 6 singles, 7-5 and 7-6 (7-3).

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies lead the series with a 34-12 record against Macalester since 1981, including an 11-6 advantage on the Scots' home court. SJU has lost each of the last four meetings overall, which snapped a seven-match win streak in the series.