WINONA, Minn. (Blugolds.com) –The UW-Eau Claire men's tennis team continued their impressive spring as they edged Luther College on Friday night in Winona, 5-4.
"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."
The immortal words of Vince Lombardi permeate through time and sports. They also encapsulate the Blugolds' trials against Luther on Friday.
Trailing Luther 1-4, prospects were bleak. Only the number two doubles team of Andrew Rust (Fr. Golden Valley, Minn.) and Will Weyenberg (So. Neenah, Wis.) had won, pulling out a slim 9-8 victory.
With number five singles player Conrad Felten (So. Wausau, Wis.) entrenched in a 9-9 tiebreaker, the sophomore gave the Blugolds moments as he won two consecutive points, earning a 6-4, 5-7, 11-9 victory and spurring the Blugold comeback.
Rust returned to the court for singles play, winning 6-4, 6-2 at number three singles. He was followed by Michael Mauthe (So. Neenah, Wis.) at number four singles, who got redemption with a 6-1, 6-3 victory after falling in a close match at number three doubles.
With the teams now tied with four wins apiece, victory came down to number six singles player Andrew Dahl (Fr. Fort Atkinson, Wis.), who sought his own redemption after falling in number one doubles earlier in the day.
Dahl refused to be defeated twice, toppling his opponent 6-2, 6-2 and providing the capstone on the Blugold win.
With the win, the Blugolds improve to 16-5 this season, and continue a torrid spring that has seen them claim 10 of 12 meets since the beginning of March.
Eau Claire will return to action on Friday when they host UW-La Crosse at 3:30 p.m.
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