Green Knights Claim MWC North Division Championship

From Sports Information Director, April 26, 2009 | Men's Tennis
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

OSHKOSH - St. Norbert College claimed the championship of the Midwest Conference North Division for the second consecutive year with a tight 5-4 win over Lawrence University at the Oshkosh YMCA.

The Green Knights won their 11th straight match and continued their winningest season ever with their 18th win against eight losses. St. Norbert will face Monmouth College in the semifinals of the Midwest Conference Championship Friday at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison.

St. Norbert took two of three doubles points to get an early lead. Derek Harrington and Nate Tackaberry beat Lawrence's Caleb Ray and Kazunari Kishida 8-3 at No. 2 doubles. Eric Koppmann and Matt Schmitz then teamed up at No. 3 to beat Travis Fondow and Peter Mohr 8-1. The tandem of Koppmann and Schmitz won their 13th consecutive match.

The Green Knights and Viking split their six singles matches. Derek Harrington won his ninth consecutive match at No. 2 singles, topping Ray in three sets 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Koppmann beat Kishida 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3, while Ethan Kadow defeated Kyle Nodarse 6-2, 6-1. Kadow's win was his eighth straight.