It was a rough preseason for the Lawrence University men’s tennis team, but the end brought a small hope for the rest of the season.
The team started off with a disheartening 8-1 loss against Lake Forest College, but came right back with a 5-4 win over Concordia the following week. However, this victory was followed by a crushing four-match losing streak to UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, and Franklin and Marshall over the next three weeks. The Lawrence men came back fighting in their next two matches against Nichols College and Schreiner University, defeating them 5-4 and 6-3 respectively.
The team’s most recent match-ups against Tiffin University and Monmouth College ended in 7-2 and 9-0 defeats. Although the Vikings won two match-ups before these most recent losses, considering their previous four-match losing streak early in the preseason, this could be foreshadowing their play for the rest of the tennis season.
Standout Junior Caleb Ray finished the preseason with a 6-4 record, defeating his opponents from Lake Forest, Concordia, UW-Oshkosh, Nichols College, Schreiner University and Tiffin University.
In doubles competition the team faired a little better, with sophomores Jason Dunn and Max Zlevor earning an overall record of 4-6. The pairing of Caleb Ray and freshman Jeremy Andereck also won a few match-ups and finished the preseason with a 3-7 record.