“Go out there and take care of business,” Brian Biernat, head coach, said to his team before winning their game against Coe College on Saturday with a 6-3 final score. 

Kole Kolinski secured a win with Demetri Bush for their doubles match, finishing with an 8-6 lead against their opponents according to Blugold Athletics. 

Also according to Blugold Athletics, Hunter Roseth and Tyler Grosz lost their doubles match against Coe College players with a final score of 2-8. Finally, winning the last of the doubles with an 8-3 score were John Foley and Colin Chapman. 

Kolinski said this past game was a great learning experience for the team. 

Playing with a new lineup against challenging teams was a speed bump, but in the end, the practices paid off, Foley said. 

“Games are always beneficial since we find things to work on in practices and for next matches,” Kolinski, a fourth-year captain said. “More tools in the toolbelt means better strategy all around.”  

Singles tournaments finished with two losses and four wins, starting with a win by Roseth with scores of 6-2 and 6-0. Demetri Bush lost in his singles with 4-6 and 0-6 final scores according to the Blugold Athletics page. 

Foley faced an overall loss in singles, according to Blugold Athletics, with final scores of 4-6 loss, 7-5 win and 6-10 loss. Kolinski received another single win with final scores of 6-3 and 6-1. 

Grosz won his singles matches with a 6-3 and 6-2 record. Finally, taking the last win in the singles tournament, Victor Simoes ended with 7-5, 2-6 and 10-6 scores. 

Biernat said this was a big win for the team since multiple of their starters were absent from the game this past weekend, and that all week they practiced with their new lineup and ended up playing great and securing a win even with players missing on the team.

Kolinski said he is proud that they pulled off a win against opponents that were either ranked higher or from higher divisions, making it a satisfying victory. These matches also are preparing for the difficult games that are to come in the following weeks, Kolinski said. 

Men’s tennis has upcoming games this Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10. They will be facing the Golden Eagles in Grand Rapids, MI. in the Grand Rapids indoor court at noon, and Sunday against the Ferris State Bulldogs in Big Rapids, Mich. at 9:00 a.m.

The next closest game is against Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, April 16 at 9:30 a.m. in Carson Park, Minn, and that Sunday, April 17 at Grinnell against the Pioneers (time TBD). 

“The next couple weeks will test our team since we are set to play really good players,” Foley, a third-year captain, said. 

Biernat said as long as the boys try their hardest, he will always be proud of how they played, even in the games they lose, there is always something to learn or gain.

This last game leaves the Blugolds at a 10-3 record overall. 

Maxwell can be reached at [email protected].