MERIDIAN – After being swept in doubles competition to start the day, Northwest never fully recovered and dropped an 8-1 decision on the road at No. 14 Meridian on Friday.

Northwest dropped to 5-4 on the season as Meridian moved to 17-2 overall.

Although Meridian took the 8-0 win at No. 1 in doubles play, the Rangers battled for the remaining two matches. The Northwest duo of Thomas Hall and Luke Wilson gave the Eagles the biggest scare at No. 3, but ultimately came up short in a feisty 8-6 effort. 

Dalton Young highlighted singles competition for the Rangers with an impressive 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 3 and improved his individual record to 8-1 on the season. That would be the Eagles' only singles loss, however, as MCC claimed the remaining five matches, including 38th-ranked Sam Butler's 6-2, 6-4 win to snap Zak Harbin's seven-match winning streak.

Northwest will continue its mini road swing Saturday, April 9 at East Central. The match is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start in Decatur.

Singles competition
1. #9 Jason Pimenta (MCC) def. Quentin Hutchinson (NWCC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Brenco Goncalves (MCC) def. Zaen Harbin (NWCC) 6-1, 6-0
3. Dalton Young (NWCC) def. Sean Grice (MCC) 6-3, 6-0
4. #38 Sam Butler (MCC) def. Zak Harbin (NWCC) 6-2, 6-4
5. Will Irvin (MCC) def. Thomas Hall (NWCC) 6-1, 6-2
6. Nathan Hollis (MCC) def. Luke Wilson (NWCC) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Brenco Goncalves/Jason Pimenta (MCC) def. Quentin Hutchinson/Zaen Harbin (NWCC) 8-0
2. Noah James/Sam Butler (MCC) def. Dalton Young/Zak Harbin (NWCC) 8-4
3. Sean Grice/Will Irvin (MCC) def. Thomas Hall/Luke Wilson (NWCC) 8-6