15 April 2014

Boys Tennis: Better, but not enough

Ivan Rodriguez won his third straight at No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-4
Last spring Northfield dominated Farmington 7-0 in a lopsided match. In Tuesday's 2014 rematch in Northfield the Tigers played much better but not enough to turn the score around in a 6-1 Missota Conference loss.

"We are playing better with each match," Tiger coach Jack Olwell said. "I don't suppose the score sounds like it indicates that but it does.

"Today it was far different from last year as we were competitive in almost every match. Ivan Rodriguez won big again and both second singles and two of the doubles teams were close."

Rodriguez won handily at the third singles position 6-1, 6-4 for his third straight victory.

"He fell behind in the second set but then played the best match of the young season," Olwell said. "Ivan has had three straight solid outings now but this was his best performance as it was against an attacker. He was steady under pressure and relentless in retrieving."

Jake Bauer had the best performance in the singles lineup, playing well, especially in the opening set, in a 5-7, 0-6 loss.

Bennett Lagro lost 0-6, 1-6 at No. 1 singles and Jon Zakoski injured his should and had to retire midway through the second set.

The first and second doubles teams of Austin Tremmel/Trent Kortenbusch and Jake Spindler/Garrett Brown lost by identical 2-6, 4-6 scores. The third doubles duo of Cooper Erickson/Gavin Renwick fell 5-7, 2-6.

Thursday the Tigers return home to take on Red Wing in another conference match-up at the Boeckman Middle School courts.