Box Score

GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College's men's tennis team defeated a nationally-ranked squad for the first time in recent history Sunday, working past Coe College in a 5-4 thriller at the Bear Center Field House.

The Pioneers, ranked 17th in the Central Region, knocked off the nation's No. 35 team with the aid of a doubles sweep and two key wins in singles. Coe entered the match ranked eighth in the Central Region.

Sam Stickels '19 and Michael Conlin-Brandenburg '21 won a 9-8 nailbiter at No. 1 doubles against the 13th-ranked team in the region, while Ben Cobin '20 and George Kaslow won 8-5 at No. 2 against the No. 17 doubles team in the nation. Zach Lane '19 and Ishaan Tibrewal completed the doubles sweep with an 8-5 win at No. 3.

In singles, Tibrewal won 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5 and Stickels clinched the win in fitting fashion with an exciting 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 decision at the second spot over the No. 50 player in the nation.

Grinnell has now won seven matches in a row to improve to 17-4. Coe dipped to 19-5.

"We had a great team win today," said Grinnell coach Paige Madara. "The whole team came out fired up in doubles and played tough to get a 3-0 lead. We battled through singles and found a way to win against a very strong team. The team is coming together nicely here in April as we turn our attention to the last few conference matches."

The Pioneers close out the regular season next weekend with home matches against Illinois College, Monmouth College and Knox College.