Ashland University's men's tennis team won its third straight match on Sunday (March 24), and second straight to start Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play undefeated.
The Eagles ousted Davenport 4-3 to move to 2-0 in the conference.
"I'm so proud of our guys for the resilience and determination to win they showed today," said freshman Stuart Brdicka. "It was a big win against a very solid conference opponent. We're ready to use that momentum going into next weekend."
Ashland won two of three doubles matches to earn that point, and three more singles matches to seal the win.
No. 1 doubles and No. 18-ranked duo in the nation, Brdicka and freshman Jordan Phelps, won their match, 6-4. In the No. 2 slot, it was junior Priyank Soni and senior Stanislaw Grzeslo who won, 6-2, and clinched the doubles point for Ashland.
In singles, two Eagles won in straight sets, and the fourth and clinching point came down to Brdicka's three-set match.
Soni won with ease at No. 1 singles, winning the first set 6-1, before his opponent, Matias Vargas, retired from the match. In No. 6 singles, Grzeslo rolled to victory as well in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.
Brdicka had a hard-fought three-set win at No. 2 singles. He won the first set 6-2, then lost the second 4-6. In the decisive third set, it was Brdicka who rose to the occasion, winning the set, 6-2.
Ashland's 2-0 weekend has the Eagles tied atop the GLIAC standings after the first weekend of competition.
The Eagles will play next on Saturday (March 30) at home against Davis & Elkins at 1 p.m.
AU
MTEN/SVS