Drake men’s tennis hits the road this Saturday, March 28, to face North Dakota in Grand Forks. The match kicks off at 12:30 p.m. You can follow live updates on the Drake men’s tennis schedule page.
As they prepare, Drake holds an impressive 14–2 record and looks to extend a remarkable 14-match winning streak. Their last game saw them pull off a tough 5–2 win against Northwest Missouri State on March 24 at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
Drake started strong with a convincing 6–0 victory in doubles thanks to Alan Gonzalez and Ben Johnson. However, the Bulldogs lost the doubles point after narrow tiebreak losses. They quickly turned things around in singles, winning five of six matches. Jose Hernandez started the comeback with a commanding 6–0, 6–0 win at No. 5 singles, improving his record to 8–2 this spring. Christian Winstead also secured victory at the top spot, and Johnson won his match at No. 3 with a score of 6–2, 6–4, bringing his season record to 7–3.
Sam Melaga has been a standout player, boasting an unbeaten 11–0 record in singles. He clinched the match at No. 4 singles. Arin Menon contributed to the win by clinching the final point at No. 6 singles, also enhancing his record to 11–1. The team’s success can largely be attributed to its depth, especially in the lower half of the lineup, with Melaga and Menon combining for a stellar 22–1 singles record during this winning streak.
In doubles, the Bulldogs are working on building consistency. Gonzalez and Johnson have had mixed results with a split of eight decisions. Meanwhile, Adan Tarquino and Ulysse Verrando are Drake’s most effective duo, boasting a 5–2 record.
On the other side, North Dakota comes in with a 12–6 record and recently won against New Orleans, 4–1. Coach Tom Boysen, now in his fifth season, has steadily improved the team. Last season, they set a record by winning 18 matches and finishing second in the Summit League. Under Boysen’s guidance, North Dakota has seen several players rise to all-conference honors.
Next up for Drake is a match against Illinois State on Wednesday, April 1, at 12:30 p.m. in Normal, Illinois.
