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mtenwin
2
Kalamazoo College KZOO-M (15-6)
4
Winner Grinnell College GCM (14-12)
Kalamazoo College KZOO-M
(15-6)
2
Final
4
Grinnell College GCM
(14-12)
Winner

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Ted Schultz

Grinnell men's tennis team ignores the rankings to beat Kalamazoo in NCAA Tourney opener

Pioneers knock off Hornets by a 4-2 score

WHITEWATER, Wis. - The rankings may not have been in Grinnell College's favor, but the Pioneers didn't let that faze them as they disposed of Kalamazoo College 4-2 in the opening round of NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Tournament Friday.

Grinnell, ranked 62nd nationally, improved to 14-12 while winning its third consecutive NCAA Tourney opener and ninth in program history. Kalamazoo, ranked four spots higher at 58th, finished its season at 15-6.

Grinnell dominated doubles to get that point, with 6-2 victories coming from the duos of Sam Rudenberg '25 and Wilder Cooke '25 at No. 2 and Albert Bostoen '26 and Karch Knoll '25 at No. 3. Aiden Klass '25 and Lucas Willett '26 led 5-3 at No. 1 before that match was halted.

Kalamazoo came back to tie it 2-all in singles with victories at No. 4 and 6, while Henry Park '28 provided the Pioneers' win in that span with a 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) marathon decision at No. 5. Willett then rallied for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory at the second slot to put Grinnell ahead 3-2.

The Pioneers finished off the team victory with another come-from-behind decision, as Knoll pulled out a 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4) decision at No. 3. Cooke was well on his way to victory at No. 1, as well, as he led 6-7, 6-4, 4-1 before that match was halted.

Grinnell will play fourth-ranked University of Chicago at 10 a.m. Saturday.
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