Sept. 24, 2011
DES MOINES, Iowa — The University of Iowa men’s tennis team competed in the second day of action at the Drake Invitational and posted a 6-1 mark in singles play at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center on Saturday.
“Our guys had a great day at Drake today,” said head coach Steve Houghton. “Winning six out of seven matches in singles was exciting to see.”
Senior Christopher Speer and freshman Matt Hagan each won two matches in Flight B singles to reach the semifinals while junior Garret Dunn won a match after a bye to reach the semifinals.
Dunn received a bye to start the Flight B singles opening round and then defeated Northern Illinois’ Max Phillips 6-2, 6-4. To avoid facing a fellow teammate in the semifinals, Dunn was moved to the Flight C singles semifinals match where he will play on Sunday.
Speer continued to look impressive this fall, improving his record to 7-1 with two wins in Flight B singles. Speer knocked off Brad Entwistle of Gustavus Adolphus’ 6-4, 6-0 in the first round and then defeated Creighton’s Gabe Nagy 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Hagan improved his fall record to 5-1 in singles in just his first two collegiate tournaments. Hagan beat Northern Colorado’s Michael Moya 6-0, 6-4 in the first round of Flight B singles and then knocked off Creighton’s Ryan Norman 6-4, 6-2.
After two straight victories in the Flight B doubles main draw, Gilmore and Hagan came up short in the finals contest against Creighton’s Nagy and Norman. Gilmore and Hagan fell 9-8 (7).
Both Hagan and Speer will compete Sunday in the semifinals of Flight B, while Dunn will play in the semifinals of Flight C. Action begins at 8:30 a.m.
Drake Invitational Saturday Results
Flight B Singles
Garret Dunn (IOWA) def. Max Phillips (NIU) 6-2, 6-4
Christopher Speer (IOWA) def. Brad Entwistle (GA) 6-4, 6-0
Christopher Speer (IOWA) def. Gabe Nagy (Creighton) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
Connor Gilmore (IOWA) def. Marcel Gyswyt (GA) 6-2, 7-5
Alen Salbasic (Drake) def. Connor Gilmore (IOWA) 6-1, 6-2
Matt Hagan (IOWA) def. Michael Moya (NC) 6-0, 6-4
Matt Hagan (IOWA) def. Ryan Norman (Creighton) 6-4, 6-2
Flight B Doubles
Gabe Nagy/Ryan Norman (Creighton) def. Connor Gilmore/Matt Hagan (IOWA) 9-8 (7)