CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Coe College men's tennis team defeated Central 5-0 in the semifinals before falling 5-4 to Luther in the championship match.  It was the third-straight year Norse have defeated Coe in the championship round.Sophomore Elliot Rausa (Waterloo, Iowa/Columbus) teamed with senior Sam Zerbib (Phoenix, Ariz./Arcadia) for an 8-4 win at number one doubles against Central.  Neither player finished their singles match.

At number two doubles, freshman Ryan King (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) paired with sophomore Scott Stegemann (Davenport, Iowa/Central) for an 8-2 win.  Stegemann also earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at number five singles in the semifinals.

Senior Joey Lankelma (Marshalltown, Iowa/Marshalltown) and junior Greg Janssen (Oshkosh, Wis./West) earned an 8-4 decision at number three doubles to put the Kohawks up 3-0 heading to singles play.  Janssen also earned a 6-1, 6-0 decision at number three singles to seal the win over the Dutch.

The second-seeded Kohawks droped a close decision to top-seed Luther in the finals. Coe took a 2-1 lead after doubles play.  Zerbib and Rausa won 8-1 at number one doubles, while Lankelma and Janssen won 9-7 at number three doubles.

Trailing by a win, the Norse stormed back for wins at number one, five and six singles to take a 4-2 lead.  The Kohawks earned wins from Lankelma at number three singles and Janssen at number four singles to tie the match at four apiece.  Freshman Victor Khristenko (Orel, Russia) dropped a 6-3, 4-6, 3-6 decision at number two singles, giving the Norse the league championship.

 The Kohawks return to action on Friday and Saturday during the singles and doubles championships.  Coe will own three seeds in the Flight A championships with King seeded fourth, Khristenko seventh and Lankelma eighth.  A total of 31 players are entered in the Flight A field.  In doubles action, Rausa and Zerbib are seeded first at Flight 1 Doubles, while Stegemann and King are fourth.