The Grand Valley State men’s tennis team played the Hillsdale Chargers on Thursday, March 28 and faced off with the Northwood Timberwolves on Saturday, March 30; both matches ending in a Laker victory.

Last year, the Lakers defeated the Chargers 6-3.The Lakers followed in their own footsteps, as GVSU once again won their matchup with a score of 5-2.

“Each year is a new year with new players” said head coach John Black. “We have been working hard in practice to get ready for the matches.”

GVSU earned the first point in the match from doubles. Jack Giessler and Martin Matov as a team won 6-2. Also winning 6-2 was doubles pair Nicholas Urban and Jack Dausman. However, Hillsdale prevailed by beating the team of Sebastien Lescoulie and DJ Colantine 6-4. At the end of doubles, GVSU had won two out of three matches.

“We focus on aggressive doubles play and developing a game plan that will give us the best chance of success,” Black said. “We focused on keeping a positive mindset and controlling our emotions over the match.”

The winning continued as the Lakers were successful in four out of six matches in singles. Lesculie lost his first set but came back to win his next two 6-3 and 6-4. Giessler once again won his match with scores of 7-5 and 6-1. Matov gained another win with the score of 7-6 (4) and 6-4, as did Urban, who won three sets (6-3, 4-6, 10-8). Two of Lakers fell to the Chargers, Dausman and Zwemer. 

The Lakers traveled to the Timberwolves’ home turf in Midland, Mich. on Sunday to compete in another GLIAC matchup. GVSU to secured another conference win of 4-3.

“The GLIAC is very tough this year with seven teams that could advance to NCAA play,” Black said. “Every match will be a battle and we are excited to pick up the comeback win over Northwood.”

The Lakers had a large comeback in the singles division with wins from four of six players. Sebastien Lescoulie won 6-1 and 7-5, also winning was Giessler after losing his first set he came back, winning the next two 6-4 and 6-3. 

Urban won his sets, (6-1, 4-6, 5-7) and Zwemer also secured a win, with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Two Lakers lost in singles, Daisman and Matov. The Lakers also lost all of the doubles matches prior to the singles playing.

“Northwood started off very strong in doubles,” Black said. “Doubles is so quick now with it only a set to six, that we cannot afford to work our way into it. We need to be going at full steam from the first point of the match.”

GVSU now sits at 12-5 on the year, and will look to improve upon that this Friday, April 5, with a 4 p.m. matchup against Ashland in Grandville.