INDIANOLA, Iowa - Wartburg men's tennis earned its first American Rivers Conference victory when it defeated Simpson College 6-3 on Saturday, March 27 and then took down Saint Ambrose University 8-1 in a nonconference match to finish the day.

The Knights (6-9, 1-1 A-R-C) will finish their weekend road trip tomorrow, March 28 when they travel to Mount Vernon, Iowa for a match against Cornell College (5-4, 0-0 MWC) with first serve set for 12 p.m. 

The Orange & Black took down Simpson in the first match of the day and tallied their first win in conference play. The Knights jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles when they came away victorious at the No. 1 and three positions. Junior Lucas Huffman took care of business at the No. 1 singles spot when he downed his opponent in straight sets. Freshmen Jackson Eells and Cade Davis also received straight-set wins at the No. 2 and three spots. Fellow freshman Nile Petersen wrapped up the contest with his fifth singles victory. 

Singles Competition
1. Lucas Huffman (WAR) def. Reade Reiter (SIM) 6-0, 6-1
2. Jackson Eells (WAR) def. Aaron Price (SIM) 6-4, 6-4
3. Cade Davis (WAR) def. Caleb Vasconez (SIM) 6-3, 6-3
4. Peter Walkwitz (SIM) def. Hunter Gerhardt (WAR) 6-3, 6-2
5. Nile Petersen (WAR) def. Ethan Humble (SIM) 6-3, 6-1
6. Brett Dewerff (SIM) def. Jared Hefel (WAR) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles Competition
1. Lucas Huffman/Jackson Eells (WAR) def. Aaron Price/Caleb Vasconez (SIM) 8-5
2. Reade Reiter/Brett Dewerff (SIM) def. Cade Davis/Hunter Gerhardt (WAR) 8-6
3. Nile Petersen/Jared Hefel (WAR) def. Peter Walkwitz/Ethan Humble (SIM) 8-5

The Knights clinched the undefeated day when it defeated St. Ambrose 8-1 and earned their third straight victory. Wartburg opened the contest with a 2-1 lead when it came away with wins at the No. 1 and three positions in doubles before sweeping the singles matches.

Huffman once again won in straight sets at the No. 1 spot to improve his season record to 11-4. Freshmen Davis and Eells also earned straight-set victories and finished the day with zero losses. The Orange & Black dropped just one set combined during singles play. The Knights finished the season 2-0 against the Fighting Bees as they took down SAU in the fall as well. 

Singles Competition
1. Lucas Huffman (WAR) def. Jack Schieferdecker (SAU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Jackson Eells (WAR) def. Matt Zuccato (SAU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Cade Davis (WAR) def. Jacob Decker (SAU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Hunter Gerhardt (WAR) def. James Boustead (SAU) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (7)
5. Nile Petersen (WAR) def. Connor Leibforth (SAU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Jared Hefel (WAR) def. Michael Lai (SAU) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles Competition
1. Lucas Huffman/Jackson Eells (WAR) def. Jack Schieferdecker/Jacob Decker (SAU) 8-3
2. Matt Zuccato/Connor Leibforth (SAU) def. Cade Davis/Hunter Gerhardt (WAR) 8-6
3. Nile Petersen/Jared Hefel (WAR) def. James Boustead/Michael Lai (SAU) 8-2