WINONA, Minn. – The Yellowjacket men's tennis team returned to action Friday, traveling to the Winona Tennis Center to take on Luther College in Winona, Minn. Last season, the Norse captured the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) championship with a perfect 8-0 record, earning their victories in convincing fashion. The 'Jackets also had a strong 2022-23, earning a 10-0 record in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action.
Â
The same narrative reigns true for both squads in the 2023-24 campaign. For the Yellowjackets, they entered Friday with a six-match winning streak. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, as the Norse were able to secure a 7-2 victory Friday evening.
Â
Match Notes
- UW-Superior picked up a victory at the No. 2 doubles position, as Sharan Kanugovi (Bangalore, Karnataka/New Baldwin International School) and Davide Pelletti (Prado, Brazil) joined forces to down Eli Young and Lev Van Hemert 8-6.
- The other Yellowjacket victor came at No. 2 singles with Igor Guetten Chaves (Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil/Colégio Adventista) earning the victory. Luther's Joao Benvenutti didn't make things easy, however, as after falling 6-3 in the first game countered to edge Guetten Chaves 6-3 in game two. In the tiebreaker, Guetten Chaves came out on top, winning 10-8.
- The top doubles duo of Guetten Chaves and Ren Kurachi (Yokohama, Japan/Yokosuka Gakuin) fell to the Norse's counterparts by an 8-3 decision.
- Kurachi was placed at No. 1 singles Friday, but Luke Westholder finished 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in the match.
- Max Loen defeated Kanugovi by scores of 6-4 and 6-1 at No. 3 singles.
- Yash Chhabra (Jaipur, Rajasthan/Sanskar School), Lucca Paladini (Blumenu, Brazil/Colegio Saber) and Jacob Zacharias (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) also fell in action, losing in straight games to Luther's counterparts.
Â
The Yellowjackets (7-4) will have one final tune-up before their spring trip to Florida, taking on Coe College Saturday. The opening serve inside the Clark Racquet Center is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Â
