The Wartburg men’s tennis team lost two matches at their first meet in “The W” last weekend.

“Everything went smoothly,” head coach Benjamin Oestreich said. “It is a great atmosphere for tennis. The surface is excellent for tennis, and the way the courts are set up are great for the competitors and the fans.”

On Saturday, the Knights took on Wabash College and lost 7-2.

No. 1 singles player Tylor Schlader beat his Little Giant opponent, Luke Bielawski, in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

Also in No. 1 doubles., Schlader and his partner Tom Koenen defeated their opponents 9-7.

“They were able to come from behind to finish them off.  It was a really solid win for us in doubles,” Oestreich said.

Luther meet a letdown
On Friday, the Knights played conference rival Luther College. Wartburg lost to the Norse 7-2.

The men’s points came from No. 1 and 2 singles. Schlader and Koenen both got wins of their own.  Schlader won 6-1, 6-2.

“Tylor is playing at a very high level right now. To be able to get two wins Friday and Saturday was pretty big,” Oestreich said.

Koenen won his sets 6-4, 6-2.

“Tom is playing pretty well for this being his first two matches,” Oestreich said. “For him to get a singles win against Luther and a doubles win against Wabash is a good start for him.”

The weekend put the Knight’s record overall at 4-7. The men will travel to Cedar Rapids next weekend for a tournament with conference opponents Coe College and Cornell College.  The meet will start 9 a.m.

S.C. tourney a success
Over Winter Break, both the men’s and women’s tennis teams went to Hilton Head Island, S.C.  The men went 3-2 for the trip and the women went undefeated.

No. 1 singles, Molly Eslick was undefeated in the tournament winning all of her matches and her doubles matches with teammate Emily Heying.

Heying played at No. 3 singles and won all her matches. No. 2 singles, Amanda Barkema won all three matches and No. 2 doubles of Barkema and Mirela Bacevac dominated their category.