Netters Stumble at MWC Team Tournament, Finish Fourth

From Sports Information Director, May 1, 2009 | Men's Tennis
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

MADISON - St. Norbert College's men's tennis team suffered about as much heartbreak as one team could encounter at the Midwest Conference Team Championship at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

The Green Knights, who entered the tournament on an 11-match winning streak, lost their conference semifinal match to Monmouth College 5-4. St. Norbert then lost to Lawrence University 5-2 in the third-place match. The Green Knights (18-10) had beaten both Monmouth and Lawrence 5-4 during the regular season.

Things looked promising against Monmouth when the Green Knights claimed two of three doubles matches. Jordan Bauer and Mike Hyrczyk outlasted Kyle Korb and Chris Utterback 9-7 at No. 1 doubles, while Eric Koppmann and Matt Schmitz beat Tyler Lampe and Ben Morrow 8-2.

St. Norbert, however, had three singles matches go three sets and ended up dropping all three. The Green Knights got singles wins from Derek Harrington at No. 2 by a 6-0, 6-0 score over Sam Graf and at No. 5, where Ethan Kadow beat Tyler Lampe 6-4, 6-0.

St. Norbert had to turn right around and face Lawrence and ended up losing all three doubles matches by 8-6 scores. Harrington won again at No. 2 singles, beating Caleb Ray 7-5, 6-1. Kadow topped Kyle Nodarse 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5.