Drake men’s tennis won a dual home match against Illinois State on Feb. 28 with a score of 5-2.
Prior to this match, the Bulldogs lost two close dual matches, both 3-4. One of the matches was against Utah University and the other against Northern Illinois.
So far this season, the men’s tennis team has competed against both Utah University and Northern Illinois, losing both matches 3-4.
Starting off, Drake’s line up for doubles included redshirt first-year Olivier Johansson and first-year Benedek Herman at Doubles One along with redshirt first-year Matija Matic and first-year Markus Bolin at Doubles Two. Also featured were redshirt sophomore Evan Fragistas and redshirt junior Freddie Powell on Doubles Three. Doubles One won 7-5, Doubles Two won 6-1 and Doubles Three won 7-5.
Doubles Two was the first doubles team to finish. Then Doubles One clinched another point, bringing the Bulldog’s score up to 1-0 heading into singles.
Johansson was the first to get another point for the Bulldogs at Singles One. Johansson won his match 6-4, 6-3. Next Fragistas won his match 6-1, 6-0 bringing the Bulldog’s total score to 3-0. Fragistas played Singles Three. Bolin won Singles Five 6-3, 6-1, clinching a total score of 4-0.
“Overall, the match went well, I felt like I was able to find my form,” Bolin said. “It was interesting to be able to play someone that I know from my home country, Sweden. I’m glad I was able to get the job done and get a win for my team as well as clinching the match.”
After a tough fight, Matic lost his match 6-3, 6-0. Powell had a tough three-setter at Singles Six after losing the first set 2-6. Powell came back to win the second set 6-4. Since the match was already clinched, the Bulldogs had to play a tie-break instead of a full third set. Unfortunately, Powell lost the tiebreaker 5-10.
After a battle at Singles Two, Herman pulled a win. After losing the first match 6-7 (4), Herman came back to win the second set 6-0 as well as the tiebreaker 10-8.
“After a tough first set I was able to figure out how to play my opponent,” Herman said. “I made a couple of adjustments in the second set that allowed me to win the second set 6-0. I used that moment to help me with the tie-breaker as well.”
“It was great to see the boys out there. There was a lot of fight, and competitive spirit across all of the courts. I am really looking forward to the upcoming matches that we will have,” said first-year men’s tennis player Gaberial Sardo.
Men’s Tennis lost 0-7 to Western Michigan in Kalamazoo on March 6. On March 7, the Bulldogs lost 3-4 against Depaul in Chicago, Illinois. For more information on upcoming matches, visit godrakebulldogs.com.
