University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Drake University
Gophers Fall to No. 39 Drake
2/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The No. 23 University of Minnesota Gophers were able to earn the doubles point against the No. 39 Bulldogs, but could not hold the momentum in singles play falling 5-2.
"Well it wasn't enough to get the W, but it gave us more information to learn from," head coach Geoff Young said. "We need to get better at basic things, and just how we compete. It's not bad - how we compete - and it's getting better, but we just need to work on our basics."
Ruben Weber and Marino Alpeza won the first match in the No. 1 spot t 6-2 against Bayo Philips and Vinny Gillespie to start doubles. They are now 4-4 together as a tandem. Justyn Levin and Felix Corwin dropped a match at the No. 3 spot, 6-2 to Tom Hands and Ben Stride evening up doubles.
Jeremy Lynn and Matic Spec secured the doubles point in a close match at the No. 2 spot. The pair won in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (4), over Calum MacGeoch and Ben Lott.
Drake took the first two matches away from Felix Corwin at the No. 3 spot (6-3, 6-0), and Marino Alpeza at the No. 5 spot (6-1, 6-2).
Ruben Weber earned the first singles win for the Gophers at the No. 2 spot to even up the score defeating Bayo Philips 6-4, 6-2. He was won three straight and is now 11-5 on the season.
The Bulldogs would take home the rest of the matches at the 1, 3 and 6 spots. At No. 1 Lott defeated Spec (6-3, 6-4) and the point was clinched by Gillespie as he beat Corwin (6-3, 6-0). Corwin was playing with a cast on his hand after missing the last couple matches.
Lynn cruised to a 6-0 first set victory at the No. 6 spot but lost in two battles in the second and third sets. He dropped the second 7-6 (5) and the tiebreak 10-8 as the Drake claimed its fifth point on the afternoon.
The Gophers head east next weekend to take on Darmouth Friday at 5:30 p.m. and will have a rematch against Columbia who beat them at the ITA Kickoff a couple weeks ago.
No. 39 Drake 5, No. 23 Minnesota 2
Singles competition
1. Ben Lott (DRAKE) def. Matic Spec (MINN) 6-3, 6-4
2. Ruben Weber (MINN) def. Bayo Philips (DRAKE) 6-4, 6-2
3. Vinny Gillespie (DRAKE) def. Felix Corwin (MINN) 6-3, 6-0
4. Ben Stride (DRAKE) def. Josip Krstanovic (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
5. Calum MacGeoch (DRAKE) def. Marino Alpeza (MINN) 6-1, 6-2
6. Tom Hands (DRAKE) def. Jeremy Lynn (MINN) 0-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (8)
Doubles competition
1. Ruben Weber/Marino Alpeza (MINN) def. Bayo Philips/Vinny Gillespie (MINN) 6-2
2. Jeremy Lynn/Matic Spec (MINN) def. Calum MacGeoch/Ben Lott (MINN) 7-6 (4)
3. Tom Hands/Ben Stride (DRAKE) def. Justyn Levin/Felix Corwin (Drake) 6-2
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,3,2) Singles (3,5,2,1,4,6)
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Players Mentioned
