By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

The SPASH boys’ tennis team had to fight mother nature again as they took on the visiting Rhinelander Hodags on May 2. 

With the wind howling, high-velocity shots were difficult to execute.

SPASH and Rhinelander sent out seven matches, with the Panthers taking a tight 4-3 victory. 

Of the seven matches, the Panthers took advantage of singles play, gaining three of their four team points. 

No. 1 singles player Matt Davis had a stress-free afternoon. 

The senior won his match convincingly, 6-1, 6-0.

SPASH’s Mason DeBot had a much tighter match at No. 3 singles. 

A back-and-forth match still ended in two sets in favor of SPASH, 6-3, 6-4.

More success in singles play came from Carson Slowinski at the No. 4 spot.

He cruised to victory by a score of 6-1, 6-2. 

The Hodags shifted momentum and won two of three in doubles play. 

The No. 3 doubles duo of Brock Chandonais and Jacob Lutgen got the lone point for SPASH in doubles, winning in two sets, 6-3, 6-1.

SPASH’s biggest conference test comes to Stevens Point on Thursday, May 4. 

D.C. Everest and SPASH are the only undefeated Wisconsin Valley Conference teams left (3-0) and will battle at the SPASH tennis courts at 4 p.m.