The Basics
Drake men's tennis returns to Des Moines on Tuesday, March 24, for a matchup against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Fans can follow the match through the live scoring link available on the Drake men's tennis schedule page.
Bulldog Breakdown
Drake enters Tuesday's contest with a 13-2 overall record and will look to extend its current 13-match winning streak. The Bulldogs are coming off a hard-fought 4-3 road victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies on March 16 in DeKalb, Ill.
After securing the doubles point, Drake needed wins on the final two singles courts to clinch the match. Jose Alessandro Hernandez delivered a straight-set victory at No. 5 singles before Arin Menon rallied from a set down to secure the match-clinching win at the No. 6 position.
Drake's success during the winning streak has been fueled by strong production throughout the lineup. Samuel Melaga has been one of the Bulldogs' most dominant performers this season, holding a perfect 10-0 singles record in completed dual matches. Menon has also been a key contributor near the bottom of the lineup, posting a 10-1 singles mark while consistently delivering points in pressure situations.
In the middle courts, Hernandez has compiled a 7-2 singles record, including several straight-set victories during Drake's recent stretch of matches. At the top of the lineup, Alan Gonzalez has emerged as one of Drake's most reliable options, leading regular starters with an 8-2 singles record this spring. Ben Johnson has also contributed valuable wins, entering Tuesday's contest with a 6-3 dual singles record.
Doubles play has also played a major role in Drake's recent success. The pairing of Ulysse Verrando and Adan Tarquino has been particularly effective, owning a 5-2 record and frequently helping Drake establish early momentum. Alex Yeager and Menon have also produced solid results together with a 4-3 doubles mark, including several key victories during the Bulldogs' winning streak. Overall, Drake has shown strong depth and flexibility in doubles while continuing to evaluate lineup combinations.
Scouting the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats
Northwest Missouri State enters the matchup with a 4-4 overall record. The Bearcats most recently earned a 5-2 victory over Southwest Baptist on March 13.
The Bearcats are led by veteran head coach Mark Rosewell, one of the most accomplished coaches in collegiate tennis. Rosewell has accumulated over 1,200 career victories and has guided Northwest programs to 30 MIAA regular-season championships and 45 NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure. A seven-time ITA Regional Coach of the Year, Rosewell has helped develop numerous conference champions and All-MIAA performers throughout his career.
Up Next
Following Tuesday's match, Drake will return to the road to face the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Saturday, March 28 at 12:30 p.m. in Grand Forks.
