The Northern Kentucky University Men’s Tennis team won two matches in as many days, defeating Missouri-St. Louis 5-4 March 27 and Quincy University 5-0 March 28.

The Norse got off to a slow start against UMSL, with the first two doubles and first three singles flights losing.

However, freshmen Will Knoll and Tyler Fraser were able to get a win over Maor Grinas and Tim Bryant, 8-4 in the No. 3 doubles flight.

Knoll posted the first win in singles, defeating Alex Cherman 6-0, 6-4. Ricardo Weaver and Jason Kramer followed, with wins over Maor Grinas, 6-0, 6-4 and Tim Bryant, 6-3, 6-3, respectively.

Weaver said he’s typically not aware of the match score going into his matches ‘- a tactic which often works in his favor, he explained.

‘I’m pretty clueless in a good way,’ Weaver said. ‘Being this way allows me to not put unnecessary pressure upon myself.’

The Norse closed out UMSL 5-4.

Mother Nature and scheduling conflicts affected the match between NKU and Quincy.

Only five of nine matches were completed due to rain, moving the matches indoors.

Customers of the Quincy Racquet Club reserved the indoor courts, so both coaches had to make a new line-up.

In doubles, senior Fritz Dlabik and Ignacio Ortiz defeated Brian Silverstein and Baxter Grace 8-3. Felipe Rossetti and Jason Kramer defeated Alonso and Rodrigo Marroquin 8-6. Will Knoll and Tyler Fraser defeated Sean Miller and John Irish 8-3.

Knoll and Weaver were asked to step up to the challenge in singles, and that’s exactly what they did.

Knoll defeated Brian Silverstein 6-0, 6-3 and Weaver defeated Baxter Grace 6-4, 6-2.
Weaver was grateful for the opportunity given to him by Head Coach Geoff Crawford.

‘I guess it shows that coach trusts us both, and he feels confident with our play of late, to try to capture the match for the team,’ Weaver said.

Knoll had a win streak of his own over the course of the weekend, going undefeated in all of his matches and not dropping a set. He attributes this to the good preparation Crawford provided him with, being a freshman.

‘I feel pretty confident starting off well because I was nervous and did not know what college tennis would be like,’ Knoll said.

The Norse defeated the Hawks 5-0.