Last week, the Fighting Scots played two matches against Carthage College and Concordia University of Wisconsin, in Racine, Wis. The first match the Scots lost 9-0 to Carthage, but they battled back in the second match, winning 8-1 against Concordia.

Major contributors for the Scots include senior Kevin Kamenjarin, senior Matt Moser, freshman Sam Graf, freshman Ben Marrow and freshman Tony Castro. During the second match of singles competition, Kamenjarin defeated his opponent 6-1 and 6-2.

Moser won his matches 6-0 and 6-0. Graf beat his opponent with a score of 6-1 and 6-0. Marrow won his matches with a score of 6-2 and 6-4. Castro prevailed 6-3 and 7-6.

In doubles competition, the men won three out of three matches against Concordia University. In the first match, teammates Kamenjarin and junior Kyle Korb won 8-1. Marrow and Moser dominated during the second doubles match, defeating their opponent 8-0. Castro and Graf, both freshmen for the Scots, won together in a great win for the team with a score of 8-0.

“The match went well last weekend. Carthage has been to the national tournament several times and are a very good team. We were not intimidated by them, we had them on the ropes,” stated head coach of the Fighting Scots, Chad Braun, who is in his fifth season as the men’s head coach.

“We played good in doubles competition; both Ben and Sam had a solid match. The second match was particularly good for Ben and Sam because it got them their first wins as freshmen. Tony also got his first win and that is especially good for him because he is a transfer,” stated Braun.

Braun added, “Those wins for the freshmen gave them confidence, and they will be ready going into this weekend.”

Last year, the Fighting Scots earned 15 dual match victories. This year, the men look forward to getting back there, even though there are fewer matches on this year’s schedule.

The Scots lost four graduating seniors last year; this year there are four new freshmen to help the team out. “We are talented, Eric Brandhorst was a very good high school player, and we need him because he is a huge pickup for us,” said Braun.       

The Scots have been practicing roughly five times a week to prepare themselves for weekend matches. Braun said, “This week we cut back to four practices with one day of conditioning. We are preparing ourselves for two matches this weekend and we will be resting up and working on our conditioning.”

The Monmouth College men’s tennis team is getting off on the right foot as they head into Pella, IA., for two matches on Feb. 16, against Central and Wartburg College.

The first match against Central College will be at 9 a.m., and the second match against Wartburg College will take place at noon.           

“This weekend we have two tough matches; we could pick up these wins, but it’s going to be a very competitive nature. We will be ready,” added Braun.

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