T-R FILE PHOTO - MHS senior Isaac Benscoter competes during a tennis meet earlier this season at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Benscoter blanked his singles opponent on Monday to help the ninth-ranked Bobcats beat Southeast Polk 9-2 in Pleasant Hill.

PLEASANT HILL — A state-of-the-art facility makes it easy to schedule home meets, because teams are willing to travel to play on the best court available.

And yet, the Marshalltown boys’ tennis team has made itself right at home on the road this season.

The Bobcats closed out their regular-season road schedule with a 9-2 triumph over Southeast Polk on Monday, evading the rain and enduring the wind to improve to 4-0 away from the Marshalltown Court Complex this spring.

Marshalltown, ranked ninth in Class 2A by the Iowa High School Boys Tennis Coaches, moved to 10-0 for the year with yet another strong showing.

“The wind was extremely tricky and the Southeast Polk guys could all play,” said MHS head coach James Christensen. “With the exception of 1 singles, everyone had a real battle.”

That non-contest at the top of the lineup was a 6-0, 6-0 victory for MHS senior Isaac Benscoter over Micah Christiansen. Benscoter moved his singles record to 8-2 this spring with a dominant performance.

Three of the Bobcats’ other four singles wins were in straight sets. Adam Boone beat Jacoby Marshall 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2, Caleb Rasmussen defeated Cohen Fuller 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3, and Kyle Smith captured a 6-1, 7-6 (11-9) battle at No. 6 over Ethan Huffey.

Marshalltown senior Jacob Christen tackled a three-set battle by beating Owen Gulbranson in comeback fashion, 4-6, 6-3, (10-6) at No. 4, while Bobcat sophomore Elliot Kodis forced a deciding third set but fell 6-4, 4-6, (10-8) to Holden Hansen at No. 5.

“Impressive fight from Jacob Christen at 4 singles playing Southeast Polk’s No. 1 from last year,” Christensen said. “He really grinded it out.”

Benscoter and Christen cruised at No. 1 doubles, 6-2, 6-3, while Boone and Rasmussen rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 2.

Seniors Tayven Dutton and Isaac Seberger withstood a stern challenge from Connor Seals and Lincoln Patterson at No. 4 doubles, prevailing 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, while Lucas Bantz and Evan Roush beat Kyle Cech and Tyler Cunningham 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5.

“Seberger and Dutton came back from 1-5 down in the second set to win 7-5,” Christensen said. “They really bought in to the ‘one point’ mentality tonight.

“Lucas Bantz was impressive tonight. He stepped in to play varsity on short notice and played really well with Evan Roush at 5 doubles.”

Smith and Will Swartz suffered Marshalltown’s only doubles defeat, falling 7-5, 6-2 to Gulbranson and Huffey at No. 3.

“Kyle and Will stepped into the 3-spot with Elliot Kodis having a prior band commitment,” Christensen said. “They got into great positions but just couldn’t make their layups tonight. They’ll be mad tonight but getting better tomorrow.”

The Bobcats get a week off to prepare for four matches in four days. MHS hosts Class 1A No. 8 Pella as well as North Polk for a triangular on Monday, May 5, and Des Moines North visits the Marshalltown Court Complex on Tuesday, May 6.

Marshalltown will make up its Iowa Alliance Conference clash with Ames at home on Thursday, May 8 to close out the regular season.

Marshalltown 9, Southeast Polk 2

SINGLES

Isaac Benscoter (MHS) def. Micah Christiansen, 6-0, 6-0

Adam Boone (MHS) def. Jacoby Marshall, 7-5, 6-1

Caleb Rasmussen (MHS) def. Cohen Fuller, 6-2, 6-3

Jacob Christen (MHS) def. Owen Gulbranson, 4-6, 6-3, (10-6)

Holden Hansen (SEP) def. Elliot Kodis, 6-4, 4-6, (10-8)

Kyle Smith (MHS) def. Ethan Huffey, 6-1, 7-6 (11-9)

DOUBLES

Benscoter and Christen (MHS) def. Christiansen and Hansen, 6-2, 6-3

Boone and Rasmussen (MHS) def. Marshall and Fuller, 6-1, 6-4

Gulbranson and Huffey (SEP) def. Smith and Will Swartz, 7-5, 6-2

Tayven Dutton and Isaac Seberger (MHS) def. Connor Seals and Lincoln Patterson, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5

Lucas Bantz and Evan Roush (MHS) def. Kyle Cech and Tyler Cunningham, 6-3, 6-3