SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana men's tennis travels to Storm Lake, Iowa to face Buena Vista University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 6. The Vikings enter the match with a 4-3 record and the Beavers are 7-2 in 2013.
Spring break recap
Augustana had started the season out by reeling off four straight wins, but couldn't keep the drive going on their trip to Orlando, Fla. Tasked with playing one of the top junior colleges in the country, ASA College, the Vikings fell 9-0. Looking to respond two days later, the Central College match was canceled due to rain, the Vikings lost in a much more highly contested match against Wheaton College, 6-3.
Mitchell Barr and Colin Noldner dropped the No. 1 singles match 9-8 losing in a tiebreaker. The following morning, the Vikings would fall by an even slimmer margin, losing to Marian University 5-4. Augustana split the singles matches 3-3, but
Jackson Buchanan and
Jared Hofer were edged 9-7 at No. 2 doubles to take the team match.
Hofer holding his own in singles
Freshman
Jared Hofer has posted a 6-1 record this season on the singles circuit with his lone loss coming against ASA College, which is ranked 11th in the junior college Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. The Sioux Falls native began the season playing No. 3 singles and despite winning both his matches, he was still not 100 percent, recovering from a labrum injury suffered in the fall. Since moving down to No. 4 singles, Hofer is 4-1 and all of his wins have come in straight-set fashion.
Series history
The Vikings have squared off with Buena Vista in each of the last two seasons and emerged victorious on both occasions. Augustana has traveled to Storm Lake, Iowa on both occasions to earn a road win each season. The Vikings downed the Beavers 6-3 last season and won 7-2 in 2011. The Vikings hope to continue their streak against BVU with a win on Saturday.
Coaches' corner
Marc Kurtz enters his ninth season at the helm of the Augustana men's tennis program. Kurtz has put together a 34-77 overall record. Since leaving the North Central Conference, the Vikings have not held conference ties for men's tennis - the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference does not sponsor men's tennis.
Next up
Augustana will travel to St. Peter, Minn. on April 13 to face St. Cloud State and Gustavus Adolphus in a double header beginning at 1:30 p.m.
