OWATONNA, Minn. - The Hamline men's tennis team (1-0) got their 2021 campaign off to a good start, earning a 6-3 win over Wartburg (3-6) on Saturday afternoon at Owatonna Tennis Center. The win featured two wins in doubles and four in singles.
 
The No. 1 and 2 doubles teams each tallied a win for the Pipers. Senior Nazeer Robinson and first year Elijah Krause teamed up for the win in the No. 1 spot, with an 8-1 decision. Junior Tou Ger Xiong and first year Isaac Hultberg combined to earn dominant 8-0 win in the No. 2 slot. In No. 3 doubles, first year Dominic Warzecha and sophomore Sean Le fell in a tight matchup, 8-7.
 
Robinson, who played at No. 2 singles, won his match against Jackson Eells, 6-3, 6-3 and Krause also added a singles win, defeating Jared Hefel in the No. 6 spot by a score of 6-4, 6-2.
 
First year Sam Thompson blew past his opponent in No. 5 singles, not giving up a single game with a 6-0, 6-0 win. Warzecha, who played in the No. 4 spot, had a tight first match, winning 7-6 (4), but then won 6-0 in set two.
 
At No. 1 doubles, Xiong lost a close match to Lucas Huffman, 6-4, 6-4, and Hultberg fell by the same score to his opponent in No. 3 singles.
 
The Pipers have a sizeable break before their next competition, as they will take on Saint Mary's on Friday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. in Winona.