CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 35^th-ranked Drake University men's tennis team fell to 40^th-ranked NC State in its opening match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend, 4-2.

"This loss hurts because we did so many good things to put ourselves in position to win the match but didn't finish.  For a while it looked like we would cruise to a comfortable win, but that's where a lot of credit needs to go to the NC State players and coaches. They remained calm and kept competing. Hats off to them for coming back and pulling out a hard fought win," said Drake head coach Davidson Kozlowski.

The Bulldogs managed to take a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point with victories on court No. 1 and 2. Vinny Gillespie and Bayo Philips cruised to a 6-2 win at No. 1, while Ben Lott and Calum MacGeoch broke serve at 5-6 to force a tiebreaker before winning the breaker 7-5 to secure the doubles point.

NC State tied the match up with a win at No. 4 singles but Gillespie put Drake back ahead with a 6-2, 7-6 (1) win at No. 3. The Wolfpack took the lead after getting wins at No. 5 and No. 6. NC State's Simon Norienus clinched the match after winning in a third-set tiebreaker over Lott at No. 1. Philips' match at No. 2 went unfinished but he was ahead 4-2 in the third-set.

"We will focus on the positives from today's match and use that prepare and be confident for tomorrow's matchup with Indiana," Kozlowski said. "It's another opportunity to play a nationally ranked opponent and for our guys to go out play hard, compete hard and have a lot of fun."  

The Bulldogs will look to end the weekend on a high note as they will play No. 50 Indiana on Sunday to close out the ITA Kickoff Weekend.

#40 NC State 4, #35 Drake 2
Jan 23, 2016 at Chapel Hill, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center) 

Singles competition

1. Simon Norienus (NCST) def. Lott, Ben (DU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)

2. Philips, Bayo (DU) vs. Nick Horton (NCST) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), unfinished

3. Gillespie, Vinny (DU) def. Ivan Savlijic (NCST) 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)

4. Thomas Wiegel (NCST) def. MacGeoch, Calum (DU) 6-4, 6-3

5. Shoti Meparidze (NCST) def. Stride, Ben (DU) 7-5, 6-4

6. Georgly Malyshev (NCST) def. Clark, Ben (DU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2

 

Doubles competition

1. Gillespie, Vinny/Philips, Bayo (DU) def. Ivan Savlijic/Igor Savlijic (NCST) 6-2

2. Lott, Ben/MacGeoch, Calum (DU) def. Georgly Malyshev/Thomas Wiegel (NCST) 7-6 (7-5)

3. Nick Horton/Simon Norienus (NCST) def. Clark, Ben/Stride, Ben (DU) 6-3

 

Match Notes

NC State 4-0; National ranking #40

Drake 1-1; National ranking #35

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,3,6,5,1)