MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Drake University men's tennis upset No. 47 Washington, 4-3, on Saturday at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. 

"What a way for this team to bounce back after a disappointing trip to Oregon last weekend," Drake head coach Davidson Kozlowski said. "Somehow, we found a way to win the big points today. We have been letting those chances slip the past few times out. We had great determination and effort from everyone."
 
The doubles point proved to be the deciding point as the Bulldog gridded out victories on courts one and two to secure the pivotal point. Tom Hands and Vinny Gillespie won court two with a 7-6 victory over Jake Douglas and Piers Foley. Ben Wood and Bayo Philips clinched the doubles point with tiebreaker victory of their own on court one.
 
"Doubles tipped the match in our favor and what a great job by Ben Wood digging out one of the most difficult volleys I've seen to save a match point.  And then win it in a tiebreaker," said Kozlowski.
 
Gillespie, who is ranked 55th nationally in singles, cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Mitch Stewart at No. 1 singles to give Drake a 2-0 lead.
 
Washington got on the board with a win at No. 3, but Ben Stride gave Drake a 3-1 lead with a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 2.
 
The Huskies managed to tie it up at 3-3 with three-set wins at No. 5 and No. 6.
 
Hands clinched the win for the Bulldogs by beating Gal Hakak in a three-set thriller, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, at No. 4 singles.
 
The Bulldogs will have little time to savor their win as they square off against No. 32 Minnesota on Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
Drake 4, No. 47 Washington 3
March 4, 2017 at Minnesota, Minn.(Baseline Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition
1. Vinny Gillespie (DU) def. Mitch Stewart (UW) 6-3, 6-2
2. Ben Stride (DU) def. Enzo Sommer (UW) 7-5, 6-2
3. Jake Douglas (UW) def. Barny Thorold (DU) 7-6, 6-1
4. Tom Hands (DU) def. Gal Hakak 4-6, 7-5, 7-6
5. Amit Batta (UW) def. Bayo Philips (DU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
6. Piers Foley (UW) def. Ben Clark (DU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Philips/Wood (DU) def. Sommer/Watanabe (UW) 7-6 (3)
2. Gillespie/Hands (DU) def. Douglas/Foley (UW) 7-6 (6)
3. Batta/Hakak (UW) def. Clark/Stride (DU) 6-2