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Joe Browning/UNCWsports.com

Men's Tennis Joe Browning

Men's Tennis Team Upsets No. 25 Drake, 4-2. At USF Tourney

Match Results | USF Spreak Break Tournament Updated Draw

TAMPA, South Florida – The UNCW men's tennis team stormed back with strong singles play and overall depth to upset No. 25 Drake, 4-2, on Friday in the opening match of the USF Spring Break Men's Tennis Tournament on Friday at the USF Courts.
 
The Seahawks, 7-3, will take on No. 48 Penn State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the winner's bracket of the eight-team bracketed tournament on the University of South Florida campus. The Nittany Lions cruised past No. 73 VCU, 4-1, early Friday in another opening-round match.
 
"It was a quality tennis match today," said Mait DuBois, UNCW's eighth-year head coach. "We have a lot respect for Drake's team. I was very pleased with how our guys responded and competed. They stayed together as a group and that made a big difference in the match.
 
"We've been fighting through some tough circumstances lately and pushed past it. Being well-prepared and healthy was a factor today. We look forward to another good match tomorrow with Penn State."
 
The Seahawks will get another shot at the Nittany Lions after falling to PSU, 4-2, in the NCAA Regionals in Charlottesville, Va., last May.
 
UNCW's No. 2 team of freshman Xander Veys and senior Sam Williams took their doubles match over Drake's Matt Frost and Ravi Patel, 6-3, but the Bulldogs won at No. 1 and No. 3 to claim the early point and a 1-0 edge in Friday's match.
 
Freshman Andres Torres of UNCW evened the score at 1-all, however, by outlasted Drake's Calum MacGeoch, 5-7, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 6 singles. The Seahawks then fell behind again, 2-1, when Alen Salibasic topped junior Christiaan Van der Burgh, 6-2, 7-5, at the top of the lineup.
 
But the Seahawks swept matches at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 singles to complete the upset. Senior Zach Hublitz beat Frost, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, at No. 5 to tie the match and Williams routed Ben Stride, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 4 for a 3-2 advantage.
 
Junior Santtu Leskinen delivered the clincher at No. 3 singles when the Finland, native, knocked off Patel, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
 
Drake now stands 14-5 on the season and plays VCU in the consolation draw at 10 a.m. Saturday.
 
UNCW's next home match is Friday, March 20, at 1 p.m. against former Colonial Athletic Association member Old Dominion.
 
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Players Mentioned

Zach Hublitz

Zach Hublitz

PLAYER
6' 0"
Senior
Santtu Leskinen

Santtu Leskinen

PLAYER
6' 1"
Junior
Christiaan Van der Burgh

Christiaan Van der Burgh

PLAYER
6' 3"
Junior
Andres Torres

Andres Torres

PLAYER
5' 9"
Freshman
Xander Veys

Xander Veys

PLAYER
6' 2"
Freshman
Sam Williams

Sam Williams

PLAYER
6' 7"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Zach Hublitz

Zach Hublitz

6' 0"
Senior
PLAYER
Santtu Leskinen

Santtu Leskinen

6' 1"
Junior
PLAYER
Christiaan Van der Burgh

Christiaan Van der Burgh

6' 3"
Junior
PLAYER
Andres Torres

Andres Torres

5' 9"
Freshman
PLAYER
Xander Veys

Xander Veys

6' 2"
Freshman
PLAYER
Sam Williams

Sam Williams

6' 7"
Senior
PLAYER