Storm split non-conference matches

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson men's tennis team split a pair of non-conference matches on Saturday at Buxton Tennis Complex, falling 8-1 against Morningside before recovering with an 8-1 win over Grand View.

The Storm (3-9 overall) coasted against the Vikings, sweeping doubles competition and taking five of six singles matches.

Adam Summitt and Daniel Schneider handled the team of Luke Norris and Queyen Diep 8-0 in No. 1 doubles and the duo of Alex Hook and Jeff Armstrong topped Dalton Stites and Tony Loffredo 8-3 at No. 2. Simpson won by forfeit at the No. 3 spot.

The singles competition provided more of the same as the Storm won in straight sets at No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5.

Summitt beat Norris 6-0, 6-2 at the top spot, Hook beat Stites 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 and Schneider took care of Diep 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3. Armstrong kept Andrew Thierer off the board at No. 5, winning 6-0, 6-0. Michael Rundle won by forfeit at No. 6 singles and Blake Billings suffered a 6-1, 6-4 loss to Tony Loffredo at No. 4.

Wins were harder to come by against the Mustangs in the first match of the day. Hook's 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 defeat of Reid Rosen at No. 2 singles stood as Simpson's only win of the match. Summitt battled Austin Grundy at No. 1 singles before falling 7-5, 6-3 and the team of Hook and Armstrong dropped a 9-7 decision at No. 2 doubles.

The Storm return to Iowa Conference play Saturday, March 24 when they travel to Eastern Iowa for matchup with Cornell and Coe.