EAST LANSING, Mich. – The 49th-ranked Drake University men's tennis team earned a pair of victories, beating Western Michigan, 4-3, and Michigan State, 4-0, on Sunday at the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility.
 
The Bulldogs began their day against Western Michigan and dropped the doubles point.
 
Tom Hands got Drake on the board with a 6-2, 6-1 over Maik Steiner at No. 4 singles. The Broncos regained the lead after win at No. 6. Vinny Gillespie defeated Matt Hamilton 7-6 (3), 7-5 at No. 1 to tie the match up at 2-2.
 
WMU took the lead the final time, 3-2, with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win at No. 2
 
Calum MacGeoch tied the match up at 3-3 with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win at No. 3 victory over Matej Svjetlicic.
 
Freshman Barny Thorold sealed the comeback victory with a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 win over Eric Olivarez at No. 5 singles.
 
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs put together a dominating performance over Michigan State. Drake jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point.
 
Thorold extended the Bulldogs' lead to 2-0 with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 4, while Ben Clark cruised past Colin Harvey 6-4, 6-2 at No. 6. MacGeoch clinched the sweep with his 6-3, 6-4 win over Michael Dube at No. 2.
 
"Today was a very tough and challenging day for the team. We found a way to gut out and steal a comeback win over Western Michigan," Drake head coach Davidson Kozlowski said. "That morning win really propelled the team to a great effort win over Michigan State in the afternoon. Hopefully, team has gained a bit of confidence as we head to San Diego."
 
The Bulldogs travel to San Diego, Calif. for the San Diego Spring Tournament on March 16-19.
 
#49 Drake University 4, Western Michigan 3
March 12, 2017 at East Lansing, Mich. (MSU Indoor Tennis Facility)
 
Singles competition
1. #48 Gillespie, Vinny (DU) def. Matt Hamilton (WMU) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
2. Kennosuke Nouchi (WMU) def. Stride, Ben (DU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. MacGeoch, Calum (DU) def. Matej Svjetlicic (WMU) 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-4
4. Hands, Tom (DU) def. Maik Steiner (WMU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Thorold, Barnaby (DU) def. Eric Olivarez (WMU) 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Jannik Opitz (WMU) def. Wood, Ben (DU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Daniel Loebel/Kennosuke Nouchi (WMU) def. Philips, Bayo/Wood, Ben (DU) 6-3
2. Maik Steiner/Matt Hamilton (WMU) vs. Hands, Tom/Gillespie, Vinny (DU) unfinished
3. Jannik Opitz/Eric Olivarez (WMU) def. Stride, Ben/MacGeoch, Calum (DU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Drake University 8-7; National ranking #49
Western Michigan 7-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,6,1,2,3,5)
 
 #49 Drake 4, Michigan State University 0
March 12, 2017 at East Lansing, Mich. (MSU Indoor Tennis Facility)
 
Singles competition
1. Brett Forman (MSU) vs. #48 Gillespie, Vinny (DU) 5-7, 4-5, unfinished
2. MacGeoch, Calum (DU) def. Michael Dube (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Jasper Koenen (MSU) vs. Hands, Tom (DU) 7-6, 2-5, unfinished
4. Thorold, Barnaby (DU) def. Alexander Kim (MSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Ivan Rakic (MSU) vs. Philips, Bayo (DU) 6-7, 2-3, unfinished
6. Clark, Ben (DU) def. Colin Harvey (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
 
 Doubles competition
1. Philips, Bayo/Thorold, Barnaby (DU) def. Michael Dube/Jasper Koenen (MSU) 6-3
2. Doug Francken/Billy Shisler (MSU) vs. Gillespie, Vinny/Hands, Tom (DU) 3-5, unfinished
3. MacGeoch, Calum/Wood, Ben (DU) def. Alexander Kim/Brett Forman (MSU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Drake 9-7; National ranking #49
Michigan State University 9-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,6,2)