Photo by: Justin Edmonds
The Pioneers showed that the success from the fall season transitioned quite nicely into the dual match season as DU defeated Air Force 7-0 Friday night and Northern Colorado 7-0 Saturday night at Meadow Creek Tennis Club.
The No. 66 men’s tennis team was highlighted by seniors Adam Holmstrom and Niklas Persson play in the fall, but this past weekend it was a full team effort in both shut-out victories.
“The two wins were great.B I do not think you ever expect everyone to win, but I was happy everyone got two singles and two doubles wins this past weekend.B This should give us some momentum into next weekend,” said Head Coach Danny Westerman.
No. 17-ranked singles player Holmstrom started right where he left off in the fall with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Brett Rodgers of Air Force. The Pioneers had little trouble in singles play as Persson defeated Austin Francis 6-3, 6-3, freshman David Simson beat James Tomlin 6-0, 6-0 and freshman Andrew Landwerlen and senior Kalle Rosen also picked up wins.
The match of the night was sophomore Ravjot Dhatt coming from behind to defeat Johnny Buckingham 6-7, 6-4 and 10-5.
In doubles play, Holmstrom did not play with his usual partner, Persson, with whom he is ranked No. 6 in the country, but instead played with Landwerlen, but it did not matter as they won 8-3. Landwerlen and Holmstrom are 6’5″ and 6’4″, which helps make it an even tougher task for opponents. Rosen/Persson and Simson/Dhatt also won doubles matches for DU.
On Saturday night against Northern Colorado, the Pioneers started on doubles play and once again had little trouble.
The duo of Landwerlen and Simson won 8-2, while the pair of Persson and Rosen won 8-3 and Holmstrom and Dhatt were victorious at 8-1.
“After we won the doubles point, I decided to pull Adam out of the singles to let our freshman Vaurn get some experience,” said Westerman about the decision not to play Holmstrom in singles.B “It gave everyone an opportunity to play a spot higher in the lineup and I was interested to see how everyone would respond.B The boys did an excellent job.”
Persson sailed through his singles match 6-1 and 6-0 over Austin Nunn, while freshman Varun Guaseelan defeated Andrew Buzaku 6-1, 6-1 for his first career collegiate duals victory. Also picking up singles wins were Landwerlen, Simson, Rosen and Dhatt.
Denver will travel to Minneapolis, Minn. this weekend to take on Minnesota on Friday night at 5 p.m.
“Minnesota will be a tough test.B They have been in the NCAA tournament on a regular basis for a long time now.B Last year we had a close match with them at our place, and hopefully we can go there and play well,” said Westerman.B
DU will stay in Minnesota and take on Sun Belt Conference foe Middle Tennessee State on Saturday at 12 p.m.
“MTSU will be another tough match.B I know they will be fired up to play us since we upset them to reach the finals of the Sun Belt last year,” said Westerman.
