By: NWC Athletic Communications
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern College men's tennis team (10-7, 2-4 GPAC) used a gritty performance to edge out the Broncos of Hastings College (3-9, 1-4 GPAC), 4-3, securing their tenth win of the season.
Head coach
Monte Tilgner stated, "This was a huge match for us, as with the win it secured at least a fifth place finish in the conference for the regular season. That helps us in the seeding for the conference tournament on the 29
th and 30
th."
The Raiders took two out of three doubles matches to secure the doubles point.
Brian VandenBerg (Jr., Mason City, Iowa) and
David Bomgaars (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) took the No. 1 doubles match by a close margin, 6-4.
Collin Harmelink (Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) and
Juan Mackrey (Sr., Balcare, Argentina) secured the doubles point with their win in the No. 2 spot, 6-2.
Tilgner continued, "We knew the doubles point was going to be big and it certainly turned out to be just that. Our #2 doubles of Juan and Collin played very well, ending their match early with a 6-2 win. The twins lost their match so it came down to the #1 doubles. Brian and David played well, and got the one deciding break of serve at 4-4 and then David served out the match for the 6-4 win and taking the doubles point."
VandenBerg earned the Raiders another point with his No. 1 singles win, 6-3, 6-2. Bomgaars only dropped four total games in his No. 2 singles match, prevailing 6-1, 6-3. Harmelink secured the match for the Raiders with a big win in the No. 4 spot. He took the first set after a long battle, 7-5. Harmelink dropped the second set, 3-6, but bounced back with a dominating 6-0 third set victory.
Tilgner added, "In singles, Brian and David played very well against tough opponents winning rather easily to get us to three team points. It ended up coming down to the last three matches, and all the guys battled well. Collin played a tremendous third set, with a lot of cheering from both teams, and won that set 6-0 to clinch the team win for us."
Northwestern 4, Hastings 3
Doubles:
#1
Brian VandenBerg/David Bomgaars (NWC) def. Josh Sodorff/Zach Sodorff 6-4
#2
Collin Harmelink/Juan Mackrey (NWC) def. Nick Smeltzer/Hunter Royal 6-2
#3 Hayden Royal/Thane Waite def.
Jack Roisum/Noah Roisum (NWC) 6-1
*NWC takes the doubles point
Singles:
#1
Brian VandenBerg (NWC) def. Nick Smeltzer 6-3, 6-2
#2
David Bomgaars (NWC) def. Josh Sodorff 6-1, 6-3
#3 Zach Sodorff def.
Juan Mackrey (NWC) 6-3, 6-0
#4
Collin Harmelink (NWC) def. Hunter Royal 7-5, 3-6, 6-0
#5 Hayden Royal def.
Jack Roisum (NWC) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
#6 Thane Waite def.
Noah Roisum (NWC) 7-5, 6-2
Up Next: The Raiders will wrap up their regular season with a match at Iowa Central Community College on April 27, starting at 3:00 p.m.
