Feb. 27, 2015
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The No. 57 Hawkeyes’ (7-2) five-match win streak was snapped Friday as the University of Iowa men’s tennis team were beaten by No. 29 Drake University, 5-2 at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.
“In singles, we had guys that didn’t come out and play with a sense of urgency. They didn’t realize that this was a big moment, but Drake played well. Drake is a good team and with a lot of experience if you let them hang around for a while they are going to come back and beat you. Hopefully, we will be ready for tomorrow,” said UI head coach Ross Wilson.
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Trailing 2-0 after Stieg Martens’ loss to Calum MacGeoch (6-3, 6-4), Josh Silverstein attempted to win the first team point for the Hawkeyes at the No. 5 singles position. Silverstein took the first set 6-2 against Ben Stride before wrapping up the match with a second set win 6-3. At the No. 4 singles position, junior Dominic Patrick put his perfect record on the line against No. 34 Ben Lott. Patrick fell in straight sets (6-2, 6-4). With the loss he drops to 5-1 in the spring campaign.
Facing a 3-1 deficit, Lefteris Theodorou provided the Hawkeyes a needed spark with a win in straight sets over Matt Frost (6-1, 7-6). At the No. 1 spot, it was a battle of ranked opponents as Matt Hagan, ranked 79th nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, faced No. 55 Alen Salibasic. Salibasic gained the upper hand taking a close first set 7-6. Down a set, Hagan could not bounce back falling in two sets (7-6, 6-4). With Salibasic’s victory, Drake went up 4-2 and clinched the match, before making it 5-2 with Bayo Phillips’s win over Jake Jacoby.
In doubles, Hagan and Theodorou lost to Phillips/Lott in a close match, 7-5. At No. 2 doubles, Martens/Jacoby fell to Frost/Patel 6-2 at second doubles to clinch the doubles point.
“We had a lot of missed opportunities on our part. I don’t think the guys came out with a lot of energy at the beginning and we could have ceased control at all three doubles. At second doubles we had break points in three of the first return games and we didn’t put returns in play. At first doubles we were up 2-0 and we gave our serve right back. Those types of errors are always going to lead to losses against good teams,” added Wilson.
Tied at 6-6 heading into the tiebreaker, Patrick/Silverstein’s match with Salibasic/Mullins was abandoned due to Drake securing the doubles point.
Iowa will face another ranked foe in No. 75 Louisiana University on Saturday with a 3 p.m. start at the HTRC.
No. 29 Drake 5, No. 57 Iowa 2
Doubles
Phillips/Lott (DU) def. Hagan/Theodorou (UI): 7-5
Frost/Patel (DU) def. Martens/Jacoby (UI): 6-2
Patrick/Silverstein (UI) v.s. Salibasic/Mullis (DU): 6-6 abandoned
Order of Finish: 2,1
Singles
No. 55 Alen Salibasic (DU) def. No. 79 Matt Hagan (UI): 7-6 (6-1), 6-4
No. 34 Ben Lott (DU) def. Dominic Patrick (UI): 6-2, 6-4
Lefteris Theodorou (UI) def. Matt Frost (DU): 6-1, 7-6 (9-7)
Calum MacGeoch (DU) def. Stieg Martens (UI): 6-3, 6-4
Josh Silverstein (UI) def. Ben Stride (DU): 6-2, 6-3
Bayo Phillips (DU) def. Jake Jacoby (UI): 7-6 (7-5), 6-5
Order of Finish: 4,5,2,3,1,6
