Fischer and Will tally SJU’s lone win at Augustana

In the wake of the tennis team’s 7-0 loss to Division II opponent Augustana, Peyton Fischer and Ryan Will were the sole winners at number two doubles.

The pair, now 8-3 overall for the season, fought hard and won, despite the modified scoring and a new opponent.

“With Augustana’s transition to D2 and increase in scholarship opportunities, we expected them to be very good, being able to recruit better players,” Fischer said.

“During the match I just wanted to have fun,” Will said. “They were a division II team, and I knew it would be difficult, but [we] wanted to compete,”

Mentally, both Will and Fischer came into the game relaxed and focused with clear minds.

“We both knew that we could be more aggressive with our approach and go for bigger and riskier shots against strong competition,” Fischer said.

During the match, the duo played strong.

“Peyton and I played very aggressive, trying to end points early,” Will said.

Along with a formidable opponent, the scoring for a Division II matchup is different than its Division III counterparts. Despite the different scoring, Fischer and Will were able to use it to their advantage.

“Ryan and I were able to get up 30-0 or 40-0 right away, getting a fast start in most games, and this really helped us,” Fischer said.

The duo worked well together, in part due to their constant communication and encouragement at every point. Their way of playing the game also complements each other. Both favor big service games, meaning their strong suit is the serve and the point play that follows.

Tennis, as a whole, requires a certain bit of strategy, something that Fischer and Will were able to use in their gameplay. They were able to identify the weaknesses of the opponents and hone in on them.

“Ryan and I returned exceptionally well against their big serves, and I think this threw them off, too,” Fischer said.

Overall, both Fischer and Will were most proud of the experience they gained. Without COVID-19 restrictions, the tennis team was able to play in front of a crowd again.

“After the win, we both agreed that this was the most fun we’ve had in a match, playing in front of a large crowd on nice courts and against good opponents,” Fischer said.

Fischer and Will return to play with the rest of the SJU tennis team this Saturday, April 2, against MIAC conference opponent Gustavus. They will play on their home court at the Chang Tennis Complex in Collegeville.