GV tennis teams continue win streaks on the road

Courtesy+%2F+GVSU+Athletics

Courtesy / GVSU Athletics

Madeleine Smith, Staff Writer

The Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s tennis teams traveled out of state to face Illinois Springfield and Lewis University as the teams swept both opponents in fashion.

GVSU played the opponents in back-to-back days as Feb. 17 was dominated by both Laker teams with the men’s team finishing 4-2 and the women’s 6-1. The following day was another victory against Lewis with the women finishing 4-3 and the men 6-1 – their overall season records now standing at 4-2 and 6-1 respectively.

Against Illinois Springfield, the men’s doubles went 2-1 overall in their matchups with seniors Sean Miller and Unai Gonzalez sweeping their opponent 6-0 at the No. 1 position, senior Jack Dausman and junior Freddy Cossio won 6-4 (No. 2) as senior Martin Matov and freshman Patricio Sepulveda finished with no result.

For men’s singles, many Lakers continued to hit their stride this past weekend: Dausman won in three sets (2-1) for No. 3 singles with Matov and Sepulveda winning their matchups in two sets (No. 4 and 5 positions respectively). To wrap up the day for the men’s, senior Sebastian Arce (1-2) and Miller (0-2) lost their matchups at the No. 1 and 2 positions respectively while sophomore Ignasi Garros finished with no result.

Martov commented on how this match presented new challenges as far as the late start time due to the fact that they usually always have early morning practices, forcing the Lakers to persevere and amplify their energy.

“The circumstances of the match today were difficult,” Martov said. “A very short warm-up combined with a rushed dinner meant the experienced players of our team really had to step up and adapt. They were a solid team who came out hot, but we as a whole responded well by putting the heat right back on them.”

On the women’s side of things against Illinois Springfield, the team was just one singles and doubles matchup away from finishing the match undefeated.

Senior Taylor Barrett and junior Vasileia Griva won their doubles match 6-1, with sophomore Estefania Hernandez and freshman Rachel Sam winning 6-4 and junior Sophia Hanover and freshman Amanda Diaz losing their matchup 1-6.

For singles, Hernandez would be the only Laker unable to win her individual matchup that went to a three-set decision (1-2) while the remaining five Lakers finished in two sets; Griva 2-0 (No. 1 position), Barrett 2-0 (No. 2), Sam 2-0 (No. 3), Diaz 2-0 (No. 5) and freshman Leonie Leister 2-0 (No. 6). 

The following day was against Lewis with both sides able to pull out a victory.

Griva and Barrett led doubles with a nail-biter matchup that finished 7-6 as Hanover and Diaz rebounded and took the win this time around, 6-2. However, Sam and Hernandez would drop their doubles matchup 3-6.

To finish, three of the six singles matches were secured by the Lakers; Griva (2-1), Barrett (1-2), Sam (1-2), freshman Anna Soteras (2-0), Hernandez (2-0) and Diaz (0-2).

On the men’s side, the team was one game away from a clean sheet but all matchups were won by the Lakers.

Gonzalez and Miller finished 6-2 in doubles as they were followed by Dausman and Cossio (6-4) and Arce and Sepulveda (6-3). 

The singles matchups were also swept by GVSU: Gonzalez finishing 2-1 while Arce, Miller, Matov, freshman Denys Zamaraiev and senior Ignacio Morera-Lucas all won 2-0.

“The main takeaway from this weekend is to enjoy the present moment and to play with trust in ourselves,” Matov said. “We’ve got a lot of seniors on this team and to get caught up in the nerves and letting them takeover does nothing to help us. We need to embrace it and enjoy these last opportunities we get.”

Both teams are riding a four-match win streak as they will be on the road again this upcoming weekend against Northwood University (Feb. 24) followed by a home match against Hillsdale College on Feb. 25 at 5 p.m.