PELLA — Opening its American Rivers Conference season at home, the Central College men’s tennis team took a 9-0 victory against Nebraska Wesleyan University Wednesday night.

The Dutch (4-8, 1-0 American Rivers Conference) beat the Prairie Wolves (0-3, 0-1 conference) 9-0 for the first time since 2018.

“We came out pretty good in doubles,” coach Ryun Ferrell said. “We really set the tone and pace in doubles, and we kept rolling into singles.”

Alejo Marcon (sophomore, Resistencia, Argentina, Pella Christian HS) nearly had a shutout of his own in singles, winning 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 3 slot. Alongside AJ Wilkins (junior, Grinnell), he also won 8-4 in No. 1 doubles.

“Alejo is starting to find his groove,” Ferrell said. “He’s playing well. If he sticks to a certain style, he does well. Him and AJ beat a solid team in doubles.”

Wilkins was also a 7-5, 6-0 winner at No. 2 singles.

Ayden Fletcher (junior, Waukee) won 6-2, 6-3 atop the singles lineup. Freshmen Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy (freshman, Kerrville, Texas, Tivy HS) won a marathon 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 at No. 4 singles. Travis Subbert (freshman, McKinney, Texas, North HS) was a 6-1, 6-1 victor at No. 5. Alex Slaymaker (freshman, Geneseo, Ill.) finished the lineup with a 6-0, 6-2 at No. 6 singles.

           

Slaymaker and Fletcher won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles and Chedzoy and Subbert won 8-3 at No. 3.

           

Central has a road match at Luther College at 3 p.m. Saturday.

           

“We’re looking forward to playing Luther on Saturday,” Ferrell said. “They were picked to win the league and now we’ll go try and pick a fight with them.”