SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It was a 2-1 weekend for the Augustana men's tennis team as the Vikings swept Doane, 7-0, on Friday night and claimed a 5-2 win over Iowa Central Sunday evening. The lone loss was a slim 4-3 setback to Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Saturday.
 
The Vikings record is now 3-5 on the year in dual action.
 
Friday vs. Doane: W, 7-0
In a convincing win over the Tiger, the Vikings made quick work in doubles by winning all three matches to take the point. The No. 1 doubles team of Henry Dornbusch and Cade Damgaard along with the No. 2 doubles team of Justin Karcher and Nicholas LaPoint each won in 6-2 fashion. The team of Tory Shafer and Tyson Cowger took No. 3 doubles in 6-1 form.
 
Dornbusch, a freshman, played a tight No. 1 singles, winning 7-5, 7-5. Karcher, also a freshman, took No. 2 doubles at 6-1, 6-1. LaPoint claimed the point at No. 3 in 6-0, 6-4, scores.
 
Joseph Plachy, playing at No. 4 singles, showed grit in what was likely the most exciting match of the night. After falling behind by dropping the first set 7-6, he fought back in the second set at 6-3. He then claimed the third, and deciding, set 10-4.
 
Cowger and Shafer rounded out the match at No. 5 and 6 singles, respectively. Cowger won 6-0, 6-1 and Shafer 6-2, 6-1.
 
Saturday vs. Wisconsin-Eau Claire: L, 4-3
The Vikings got off to a great team start by claiming the doubles point, but then dropped four of the six singles matches to fall in the match. Dornbusch and Damgaard won 6-3 at No. 1 doubles while Cowger and Shafer claimed No. 3 doubles at 6-1. No. 2 doubles went unfinished with the point decided.
 
The victories in singles play came from Karcher at No. 3 and Cowger at No. 6. Karcher won by scores of 7-5, 6-2. Cowger had a tougher go at it, but prevailed 6-1, 3-6, 10-8. Two other singles matches went to a decided third set as LaPoint narrowly fell 6-3, 3-6, 3-10, and Plachy at 6-4, 3-6, 8-10.
 
Sunday vs. Iowa Central: W, 5-2
After the tough setback with Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the Vikings jumped back into the win column in the neutral-site match with Iowa Central in Sioux City, Iowa.
 
All three doubles teams won with Dornbusch/Damgaard at No. 1 and Karcher/LaPoint at No. 2 doubles each winning by scores of 7-5. At No. 3 doubles, Cowger and Shafer win 6-4.
 
Dornbusch started the singles play off with a dramatic 6-7 (5), 6-4, 13-11 win at No. 1 singles. Karcher bumped up to No. 2 singles where he won 6-3, 6-3. At No. 4 singles, it was another dramatic, and entertaining, match with LaPoint winning 6-3, 3-6, 12-10.
 
The final win of the day came from Cowger at No. 6 singles as the junior from Kansas City went 3-0 on the weekend in singles play and 3-0 in doubles play. Cowger claimed Sunday's singles point with scores of 7-6 (6), 6-3.
 
Up Next
Augustana, who has played indoors the entire spring season so far, will enjoy sunny Florida with four matches beginning March 7. The Vikings face Stonehill College on March 7, Palm Beach Atlantic on March 8, Embry-Riddle on March 9 and close up the Spring Trip with Florida Southern on March 10. All four matches are scheduled to take place in Orlando, Florida.