The Ferris State tennis teams defeated the Grand Valley State Lakers at home on Saturday, March 30.
The men (12-4, 3-0 in GLIAC) swept their matchup 7-0, and the women (9-7, 3-0 in GLIAC) won 4-3.
Head coach Mark Doren made sure his teams were prepared heading into the rivalry match.
“I challenged the lowerclassmen to really look at what the Grand Valley rivalry means to the other sports on campus and the upperclassmen on our team, and show that it means that much to them as well,” Doren said. “They came out today and really showed that Bulldog fight.”
Men’s tennis
The men’s squad extended their winning streak to seven matches with the win on Saturday.
The Bulldogs captured the doubles point early with wins from the first doubles pairing of senior Jan Koupil and senior Benjamin Lortie. The second doubles tandem of sophomore Esunge Ndumbe and junior Alessandro Santangelo secured the point with a straight-set win.
The men went on to sweep singles play, including straight-set wins from senior Yannic Alexander Mader and sophomore Erik Kovacs.
Ndumbe knew the Bulldogs were ready for the rivalry matchup.
“Playing our rival school isn’t just another match, it’s a clash of tradition,” Ndumbe said. “There was a lot of pressure coming into the match today, but we had been mentally preparing ourselves after our win earlier this week.”
Women’s tennis
After a 1-3 start to their season, Saturday’s win marks a fifth straight victory for the women’s team.
The Bulldogs took the doubles point courtesy of wins from the one-doubles team of senior Morgan Waller and sophomore Ana Sofia Hernandez Ferrer and the three-doubles pairing of sophomore Maria Hernandez Ferrer and freshman Katherine Earnest.
Earnest knew the team was prepared for singles play after she helped capture the doubles point.
“Everyone was focused and ready to dominate,” Earnest said. “As a freshman, helping secure the doubles point was extra special. You could tell the team went into singles with a high amount of energy and confidence. Beating our biggest rival on our home courts was thrilling.”
Ferris then won three of the six singles matches to give them the 4-3 win.
Waller and Ana Hernandez Ferrer both captured their second win of the day, and senior Sophie Daavettila won her fifth straight singles match to gain the victory for the Bulldogs.
Both tennis teams are set for an in-season break before returning next weekend. The women’s squad is back in action at home against the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals on Saturday, April 13 at 12 p.m. before both teams take on the Wayne State Warriors on Sunday, April 14. The men’s match will begin at 10 a.m. with the women’s match following at 2 p.m.
CE – RS