LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Drake University men's tennis team collected its second win in three days by netting a 5-2 victory at No. 39 Louisville Sunday afternoon.
“It was a great win for our program to go on the road get a win against a team from a major conference,” said Drake head coach Davidson Kozlowski. “This gives us confidence and pride in the work we put in and what we're doing as a team.”
The No. 46 Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead by claiming the doubles point with Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Ben Lott (Newcastle, England) combining to handle Albert Wagner and Chris Simich, 6-4. Drake sealed the point when Ravi Patel (London, England) and Matt Frost (London, England) defeated Seb Steifelmeyer and Michael Lippens, 6-3.
“They did exactly what we asked them to do in bringing intensity and starting quickly,” Kozlowski said of taking a 1-0 lead in the match. “We wanted to make sure we were ready from the first point of the doubles matches. Then we were able to keep that intensity and hold on. That small difference to start paid dividends in winning the doubles point.”
That intensity carried over to the singles matches with the Bulldogs earning wins at Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Ben Stride (Bognor Regis, England) got Drake to 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-3, win at No. 5 over Jeffrey Brown followed by Lott, ranked No. 30 nationally, taking down No. 59 Albert Wagner in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 2 singles to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.
“It was a great effort from everybody,” said Kozlowski. “Ben Stride had a big moment on the road and played some of his best tennis. It was exciting to see big things from the freshman and Ben Lott played tremendous with a win over a ranked opponent.”
At No. 1 singles, Drake's Salibasic, ranked No. 46, faced the nation's No. 1 singles player in Seb Stiefelmeyer. Salibasic pushed the top-ranked Cardinal to three sets before falling, 6-0, 3-6, 6-2.
“Alen put up a valiant effort and I know he is disappointed he didn't win,” Kozlowski said. “Stiefelmeyer is the No. 1 player in the country, but Alen matched up well with him.”
Despite Louisville taking the No. 1 point, Drake quickly sealed up the win at No. 4 with Patel earning a 6-4, 6-2, win over Simich. Frost tacked on another point at No. 3 with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, win over Lippens.
The homestanding Cardinals salvaged a point in the day's last match to finish with Van Damrongsri defeating Drake's Bayo Philps (Houston, Texas), 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, to account for the final 5-2 tally in the team standings.
“We talk about outworking and outhustling our opponent and were proud of our guys and how we were able to push ourselves that hard against a very good team,” Kozlowski said. “We're going to work even harder for the next few days and get ready to face Miami in Waco.”
The Bulldogs face No. 52 Miami as part of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Waco, Texas, on Jan. 24. The Bulldogs will then take on either the host, No. 6 Baylor, or No. 62 Tulane on Jan. 25.
#46 Drake 5, #39 Louisville 2
Jan 18, 2015 at Louisville, Ky. (Bass-Rudd Tennis Center)
Singles Competition
1. #1 Seb Stiefelmeyer (LOU-MT) def. #46 Salibasic, Alen (DU) 6-0, 3-6, 6-2
2. #30 Lott, Ben (DU) def. #59 Albert Wagner (LOU-MT) 6-4, 6-3
3. Frost, Matt (DU) def. Michael Lippens (LOU-MT) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6
4. Patel, Ravi (DU) def. Chris Simich (LOU-MT) 6-4, 6-2
5. Stride, Ben (DU) def. Jeffrey Brown (LOU-MT) 6-1, 6-3
6. Van Damrongsri (LOU-MT) def. Philips, Bayo (DU) 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Salibasic, Alen/Lott, Ben (DU) def. Albert Wagner/Chris Simich (LOU-MT) 6-4
2. Patel, Ravi/Frost, Matt (DU) def. Seb Stiefelmeyer/Michael Lippens (LOU-MT) 6-3
3. Philips, Bayo/Stride, Ben (DU) def. Jeffrey Brown/Van Damrongsri (LOU-MT) 6-5
Match Notes
Drake 2-0; National ranking #46
Louisville 0-1; National ranking #39
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,2,1,4,3,6)
