INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Northwestern College men's tennis team (8-3, 0-0 GPAC) traveled to Indianola, Iowa to take on two NCAA DIII opponents, the Raiders earned a split on the day.

The Raiders fell to Wartburg College (17-7) 3-6, but were able to bounce back and earn a very convincing 9-0 victory over Simpson College.

Match 1 – NWC 3, Wartburg 6
"We came out very slow and just really never got it picked up," stated head coach Monte Tilgner.

The doubles matches were swept by the Knights of Wartburg. Collin Harmelink (Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Juan Mackrey (Sr., Balcare, Argentina) played a close match eventually falling 6-8. The duo of Jack Roisum (So., Rapid City, S.D.) and Noah Roisum (So., Rapid City, S.D.) also fell in a close doubles match. They forced a tie breaker but were unable to get the win falling 7-8 (0-7).
 
Brian VandenBerg (Jr., Mason City, Iowa) battled in the No. 1 singles spot taking his match to a third set tiebreaker. David Bomgaars (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) picked up a win 6-4, 6-0 to get the Raiders on the board. Mackrey and Harmelink won their respective singles matches. Harmelink also battled and went to a third set, taking the third set 10-6 to get the win.
 
Tilgner added, "It's a match hopefully we will learn from and get better from. David and Juan played some pretty good singles, and Collin had a great second set and tiebreaker to win his match as well."
 
Match 2 – NWC 9, Simpson 0
The second match of the day saw the Raiders bounce back in convincing fashion, sweeping all nine spots.

VandenBerg and Bomgaars took the No. 1 doubles match 8-1. Harmelink and Mackrey dominated with an 8-0 win in the No. 2 doubles spot. J. Roisum and N. Roisum finished off the sweep of the doubles points with an 8-2 victory.

The singles saw more of the same for the Raiders. VandenBerg swept his matchup 6-0, 6-0. Bomgaars only dropped two games, winning 6-1, 6-1. Mackrey won in the No. 3 spot, 6-0, 6-1.

Harmelink battled in a very long three set match. He won the first set 7-6 but winning the tiebreaker 7-4. After dropping the second set Harmelink won the third set tiebreaker 11-9.

J. Roisum only dropped one game, taking the No. 5 spot 6-0, 6-1. N. Roisum wrapped up the sweep with a 6-3, 6-1 win.

Coach Tilgner commented, "We came out very aggressive and played very well against Simpson."

Up Next: The Raiders will begin the Great Plain Athletic Conference matches on April 1 when they travel to Fremont, Neb. to take on Midland University at 4:00 p.m.
 

---