PELLA — Winning its third American Rivers Conference match in four days, the Central College men’s tennis team cruised past Buena Vista University 8-1 Monday night.
The Dutch (8-10, 5-1 American Rivers Conference) were tested early by the Beavers (4-13, 1-5 conference).
“Nobody plays well on a Monday, but Buena Vista didn’t get the memo,” coach Ryun Ferrell said “They came out of the blocks fast and popped us in the jaw pretty good. Once we settled down and established ourselves, we started taking control. We really implemented what we do in singles.
“It was a nice, solid win. We kept pursuing and didn’t stop until the job was done.”
The most dominant singles win came from Alejo Marcon (sophomore, Resistencia, Argentina, Pella Christian HS) at No. 3, to the tune of a 6-1, 6-0 decision.
“Alejo established himself as someone who was going to make every single ball,” Ferrell said. “He was going to run every ball down and his opponent had no answer for it. It was one of the most fun matches I’ve seen Alejo play.”
Ayden Fletcher (junior, Waukee) was a 6-1, 6-3 winner at No. 1 singles while AJ Wilkins (junior, Grinnell) won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2. Travis Subbert (freshman, McKinney, Texas, North HS) also 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 with Alex Slaymaker (freshman, Geneseo, Ill.) rounded things out 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5.
Wilkins and Subbert won 8-6 at No. 1 doubles. Fletcher and Slaymaker won 8-5 at No. 2 doubles. Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy (freshman, Kerrville, Texas, Tivy HS) and Marcon won 8-7 (7-4) at No. 3 doubles.
The Dutch are locked in to a top-four finish but can finish as high as second in the American Rivers Conference with two wins this weekend. Central plays Friday at Wartburg College at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. at Coe College
“We’re going to get the get day off tomorrow and then go pretty light the next two days,” Ferrell said. “The team is ready to go and they are looking forward to this. It’s a neat way to end the season against teams with similar records. We’ve got an opportunity and hopefully we embrace it and go after it.”
