The school from the Little Apple came to Lawrence High Monday and beat the Lions boys’ tennis team by a big margin.

Manhattan took all but one singles and one doubles match in a 7-2 victory.

“I was real pleased,” Manhattan coach Joyce Allen said. “We knew it would be a tough match with (Scott) Elwell, but I was pleased with doubles. We’ll take it.”

Elwell, an LHS senior, defeated Manhattan senior Andrew Rosander, 8-3, in the battle of top seeds. Elwell, an Iowa signee, jumped to a 3-0 lead and never looked back.

The two had met previously in state competition last year, a match Elwell also won.

“We’re not very strong after Scott, but everybody’s improved,” LHS coach Dick Wedel said of the Lions’ three-time state qualifier. “We’re pleased with their effort and progress, and that’s the only thing we can look for right now.”

Lawrence High's Scott Elwell returns a serve against Manhattan. Elwell won his match Monday at Lawrence Tennis Center, but the Indians won the dual, 7-2.

The Lions’ other victory came in doubles play, when junior Isaac Severance and sophomore Tommy Johnson beat Trevor Stone and Dan Townsend, 8-5.

The Lions (4-6-1 in duals) won’t have time to lick their wounds. They play in a quad today at Tecumseh against Shawnee Heights, Topeka Seaman and Topeka West before playing host Thursday to the six-team Lawrence Invitational.

Elwell said the busy schedule would be good for LHS, a team largely composed of sophomores and juniors.

“Whenever you play a lot in a short period, hopefully the experience helps,” he said.

Two consecutive rainouts added to the packed calendar — Monday’s match was originally scheduled for April 24.

“The Weather Channel is my friend this time of year,” Wedel said. “I was checking it frequently, and it said we’d be OK today.”