OWATONNA, Minn. -- The Macalester College men's tennis team took on Grinnell College in Sunday morning action to kick off the spring 2016 season. Grinnell entered the match with a 2-1 record and improved to 3-1 this year after defeating the Scots in all nine matches.

Macalester's most competitive singles match of the day came at number two as senior Brian Utz (Rochester, Minn./ Lourdes) battled in set one, but fell 7-6 and 6-2 to Grinnell's Cole Miller. Macalester's five and six singles players, Matthew Yang (Bethesda, Md./ Walt Whitman) and Ben Wilson (Oakland, Calif./
College Preparatory School) each pushed a set to 10 games, but fell 6-4, 6-1 and 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles play procuded some close matches, however, the Pioneers prevailed in all three. Macalester's number two team comprised of Aidan Tirpack (Mill Valley, Calif.) and Wilson Merrell (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./ Arlington) fell to Grinnell's two and three singles players in a close 9-8 match.

The Scots will return to action on Friday, Feb. 19 when they travel to Rochester, Minn. to take on the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse at 7:30 p.m.

Grinnell College 9, Macalester 0

 Singles competition
1. Jose Coloma (GCM) def. Joshua Doyle (MAC) 6-0, 6-2
2. Cole Miller (GCM) def. Brian Utz (MAC) 7-6, 6-2
3. C.J. Ray (GCM) def. Aidan Tirpack (MAC) 6-3, 6-1
4. Tracy Johnson (GCM) def. Wilson Merrell (MAC) 6-2, 6-0
5. Tommy Pitcher (GCM) def. Matthew Yang (MAC) 6-4, 6-1
6. Sam Catanzaro (GCM) def. Ben Wilson (MAC) 6-3, 6-4

 Doubles competition
1. Jose Coloma/Tommy Pitcher (GCM) def. Joshua Doyle/Brian Utz (MAC) 8-4
2. Cole Miller/C.J. Ray (GCM) def. Aidan Tirpack/Wilson Merrell (MAC) 9-8
3. Tracy Johnson/Sam Catanzaro (GCM) def. Matthew Yang/Hardt Bergmann (MAC) 8-5

Match Notes:
Grinnell College 3-1
Macalester 0-1