DES MOINES, Iowa – The 36^th-ranked Drake University men's tennis team dropped a tough 4-3 decision to No. 49 Wisconsin on Sunday at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.

The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. Sophomores Ben Stride and Bayo Philips topped Osgar O'Hoisin and John Zordani 6-2 at the No. 3 spot, while Ben Lott and Ben Wood clinched the point with a 6-3 win over Josef Dodridge and Lamar Remy at No. 1.

The Badgers jumped on the Bulldogs early in singles and took three courts right away. O'Hoisin defeated Calum MacGeoch, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4, snapping MacGeoch eight-match winning streak. Jose Carranza gave UW the lead, 2-1, with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Stride. Remy put the Badgers within a point from winning the match with his 6-4, 7-6 victory over Philips.

After dropping the first set 6-0, freshman Ben Clark bounced back to take the next two sets 6-4, 7-6 at No. 6 and keep the Drake's hopes for a comeback alive.

At No. 1, Lott took the first set 6-4, but Dodridge managed to edge out Lott in a second set tiebreaker to force a third set. Dodridge used his momentum from the second set to win the third set 6-3 and gave the Badgers match point.

DU's Vinny Gillespie and UW's Alex Kokorev were tied 3-3 in the third set, before Kokorev retired after Dodridge clinched the match for Wisconsin.

The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, March 22 when they host No. 20 Oregon at 12 p.m.

#49 Wisconsin 4, #36 Drake 3
Mar 13, 2016 at Des Moines, Iowa (Roger Knapp Tennis Center) 

Singles competition

1. Dodridge,Josef (WIS) def. Lott, Ben (DU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3

2. Gillespie, Vinny (DU) def. Kokorev,Alexander (WIS) 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-1), 3-3, retired

3. Remy,Lamar (WIS) def. Philips, Bayo (DU) 6-4, 7-6

4. O'Hoisin,Osgar (WIS) def. MacGeoch, Calum (DU) 6-3, 6-4

5. Carranza,Jose (WIS) def. Stride, Ben (DU) 7-5, 6-2

6. Clark, Ben (DU) def. Zordani,John (WIS) 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)

 

Doubles competition

1. Lott, Ben/Wood, Ben (DU) def. Remy,Lamar/Dodridge,Josef (WIS) 6-3

2. Gillespie, Vinny/MacGeoch, Calum (DU) vs. Carranza,Jose/Jalolov,Jakhongir (WIS) 4-4, unfinished

3. Stride, Ben/Philips, Bayo (DU) def. O'Hoisin,Osgar/Zordani,John (WIS) 6-2

 

Match Notes

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