Saint John's tennis is set for two matches this weekend, beginning with a 4 p.m. match at No. 25 Gustavus Adolphus on Friday, April 11, in St. Peter. The Johnnies then return home to host Saint Mary's at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Chang Tennis Complex in Collegeville.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (5-7, 1-4 MIAC) dropped a pair of close matches last weekend on the road.

at Hamline 5, Saint John's 4
HU won three matches thanks to a tie-breaker to edge Saint John's 5-4 last Saturday (April 5) at InnerCity Tennis in Minneapolis. The Pipers claimed the win at No. 1 doubles with an 8-7 decision, thanks to a 7-2 score in the tie-breaker, and at No. 3 with an 8-4 margin. Sophomores Alex Draeger (Litchfield, Minn.) and Sam Wolden (St. Louis Park, Minn.) posted an 8-2 win at No. 2. 

HU recorded wins at Nos. 3 (4-6, 6-0, 10-7) and 5 (3-6, 6-4, 10-6) singles via the super-breaker. 

Wolden tallied a straight-set win (6-3, 6-4) at No. 2 (6-3, 6-4), while Draeger won his 10th-consecutive singles match at No. 4 (6-4, 7-6/7-2). 

Junior Josh Peterson (Perham, Minn.) recorded the Johnnies' fourth point with a victory at No. 6 singles (6-4, 7-5).

at Concordia-Moorhead, 6, Saint John's 3
SJU went 1-3 in singles matches decided by the super-breaker in a 6-3 loss to Concordia-Moorhead on Sunday (April 6) at Courts Plus in Fargo, N.D.

The Johnnies gained a 2-1 lead after doubles competition but the Cobbers won five of the six singles matches, including three via the super-breaker.

Seniors Cooper Anderson (St. Paul, Minn./White Bear Lake) and Ryan Will (Northfield, Minn.) posted an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles, while Draeger and Wolden improved to 8-3 (4-1 MIAC) with an 8-4 victory at No. 2.

Wolden won the Johnnies' lone single match at No. 2, where he is now 9-2 (5-0 MIAC), thanks to a 10-5 score in the super-breaker (6-2, 1-6).

A LOOK AT THE GUSTIES: Gustavus Adolphus (12-10, 5-0 MIAC) plays four matches this weekend. In addition to SJU on Friday, members of the GAC tennis team visit Division II Augustana (S.D.) and host Bethany Lutheran after the Johnnies. On Saturday, the Gusties to Northfield to face Carleton. Junior Gage Gohl and Tyler Haddorff won the NCAA Division III national championship in doubles last spring and were the MIAC Doubles Team of the Year. Senior Marco Siviero was an Academic All-American and the MIAC Singles Player of the Year last season.

A YEAR AGO: Then-No. 12 Gustavus handed SJU a 9-0 defeat last April 6 (2024) at Sta-Fit. The Gusties won all six singles matches in straight sets. Mark Rosen '24 recorded the closest outcome for SJU at No. 6 (6-4, 6-4). Ian Aadland '24 and Will suffered an 8-6 loss at No. 1 doubles.

A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's (7-12, 0-8 MIAC) is coming off a 9-0 defeat last Saturday (April 5) to St. Scholastica and this Saturday's trip to Collegeville is its season finale. Graduate student Evan Huemoeller is currently 5-9 at No. 1 singles and 2-11 at No. 1 doubles with freshman partner Gavin Pratt, who is 7-11 on the season at No. 2 and No. 3 singles.

LAST SPRING: SJU posted a 9-0 shutout of Saint Mary's on April 19 (2024) in Winona. The Johnnies allowed three points or less in doubles competition and won five of the six singles matches in straight sets. 

Aadland and Wolden tallied an 8-1 win at No. 2 doubles, while Anderson/Will and Draeger/Will Deters '24 collected 8-3 victories at Nos. 1 and 3, respectively. Will played his eighth super-breaker match of the season and collected a win thanks to a 10-3 decision.

The other five Johnnies earned straight-set wins: Aadland at No. 2 (6-1, 6-2); Wolden at No. 3 (6-0, 6-2); Daniel Perez '24 at No. 4 (6-3, 6-2); Rosen at No. 5 (6-4, 6-1); and Anderson at No. 6 (6-2, 6-2).

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 41-2 against the Cardinals since 1981, including a 21-2 record on its home court (Collegeville or Sartell). Both losses were 5-4 scores.