Joel Druvenga April 7, 2009

Dutch win third straight, top Simpson 7-2

INDIANOLA—The Central College men’s and women’s tennis teams each scored a 7-2 win over Simpson College Tuesday as the men looked to several players to play a spot up to win their third straight match. “We had a tough schedule early on,” said head coach Steve Tyler. “I think we were overmatched a little at the start, but we’re starting to play some good tennis now that we’re back in the Iowa Conference and it feels good.”

With Dan Bowser (sophomore, Fort Dodge) out sick, the Dutch had to move their Nos. 3-6 singles players up a spot in the lineup and fill in for him at No. 1 doubles.

Chris Lensing (freshman, Spencer) teamed up with Luke Boyd (junior, Fort Dodge) in Bowser’s absence at No. 1 doubles and didn’t miss a beat in an 8-0 win. At No. 3 doubles Joel Druvenga (senior, Spencer) and Jacob Velhuizen (sophomore, Wausau, Wis., East HS) scored an 8-3 win and gave the Dutch a 2-1 lead heading into singles.

The only Central player to play in his normal singles spot, Boyd, won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 singles, Jacob Dreyer (sophomore, Cedar Falls) won 6-1, 6-1, Seth Harris (freshman, Waverly, Neb.) won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 3 singles, Veldhuizen won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 5 singles and Druvenga scored a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles in the only three-setter of the day.

“We had some guys really step up for us today,” said Tyler. “Joel Druvenga, a senior captain, came out and got big wins for us at No. 6 singles and at No. 3 doubles, and Chris Lensing really did well coming in for us at No. 1 doubles.”

The Central women’s team also won with ease against as part of its non-traditional season. With only five players, Simpson forfeited matches at both No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. At No. 1 doubles Faith Bliss (junior, Ottumwa) and Kayla Donner (freshman, Metamora, Ill.)  teamed up for an 8-6 win while Trinh Le (freshman, Des Moines, North HS) and Riley Taylor (freshman, Tama, South Tama HS) fell 9-8 at No. 2 doubles.

Hilary Baehr (senior, Des Moines, Roosevelt HS) won 6-2, 6-0 at No.1 singles, while Bliss didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles. At No. 3 singles Sara Dale (junior, Marshalltown) 6-0, 6-2 and Emily Swartz (freshman, Eldora) recorded a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles.

The Dutch men (5-8) are off until next Wednesday, April 15 when they travel to Grinnell College (13-7), and the Central women play next April 21 against Martin Luther College (Minn.) in Storm Lake.