DES MOINES — The Ottumwa boys tennis team finished off points Tuesday, and eventually Hoover. The Bulldogs cruised to a 9-2 victory in Des Moines.

“Hoover was a team that played defensive tennis,” Ottumwa coach Alan Paris. “They kept the ball in play and just waited for us to make a mistake.

“There were a lot of long points. The boys hung in there and won most of the points. Earlier in the season we might of lost to a team that made us play a lot of balls.”

The only losses of the night for the Bulldogs came in third set tiebreakers. The win improved Ottumwa’s record to 4-4 this season and 3-1 in conference play.

Michael Wetrich got the Bulldogs on the scoreboard early with a 7-5, 6-1 victory in the No. 1 singles match. Bryan Pierce easily defeated his opponent 6-0, 6-3 to record Ottumwa’s second win of the night.

In the No. 3 singles, Kyle Nicholson outlasted Ben Lockin for a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) victory for Ottumwa. Elliot Higgins notched the last win for Ottumwa in singles play with a shutout victory, 6-0, 6-0.

Ottumwa continued to play well in doubles action. The Bulldogs swept all five matches. Wetrich and Corbin Gardner combined for a 6-2, 6-0 win.

In the No. 2 doubles match, Pierce and Nicholson scored another easy victory, 6-1, 6-1. Reid Sheldahl and Higgins beat their opponents 6-1, 6-3.

Ottumwa finished the night with two more wins. Abe McDanel and Tyler Brown combined for a 6-2, 6-1 win in the No. 4 doubles. In the last match, Emery Songer and Tyler Granneman won 6-4, 6-1.

The Bulldogs are back on the court on Thursday at districts in Muscatine.

Ottumwa 9, Des Moines Hoover 2

Singles

No. 1 — Michael Wetrich (O) defeated Nate Evans 7-5, 6-1. No. 2 — Bryan Pierce (O) defeated Elerick Vazzuez 6-0, 6-3. No. 3 — Kyle Nicholson (O) defeated Ben Lockin 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). No. 4 — Jerod Smith defeated Corbin Gardner (O) 6-4, 2-6, 10-7. No. 5 — Kyle Utlce defeated Reid Sheldahl (O) 7-5, 0-6, 10-6. No. 6 — Elliot Higgins (O) defeated James Smith 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles