Last Saturday, the Gustavus Men’s Tennis team showed its ability to compete at the national level as they took on No. 17 ranked UW-Whitewater at home. The No. 23 ranked Gusties defeated UW-Whitewater with a score of 8-1. After two straight losses to start off the season, the Gusties have now accumulated 11 straight wins and are tied for first place in the MIAC with Carleton College and the University of St. Thomas.
“The guys put together a great team effort today,” Head Coach Tommy Valentini said. “We were able to execute our game plan in the doubles against UW-Whitewater to help us get out to a good start.”
The team started off its double-header at Swanson Tennis Center last weekend against UW-Whitewater on Saturday morning. All six singles matches were won by Juniors Mohanad Alhouni, Zach Ekstein, and Tommy Entwistle, Sophomores Patrick Whaling and Chase Johnson, and Freshman Yassine Derbani. Doubles teams Alhouni and Whaling, as well as Entwistle and Johnson, also won their matches. The doubles team of Senior David Hanberg and Freshman Michael O’Neil lost their match, bringing the score to an 8-1 win for the Gusties.
“We competed with poise and were resilient in some key moments throughout the singles against a very good team.” — Coach Tommy Valentini
Valentini said he was impressed with his team’s ability to rise to the occasion and compete with a very challenging opponent.
“We competed with poise and were resilient in some key moments throughout the singles against a very good team,” Valentini said.
The results turned out better in the team’s matches against Macalester when they swept their opponents in a 9-0 win on Saturday night.
“Against Macalester the energy in the doubles was outstanding and we did well to carry it over into the singles,” Valentini said. This win was important for the Gusties, improving their MIAC record to 3-0. This sweep was nothing new for the Gusties. The team has recorded seven 9-0 sweeps in their last 11 games.
Alhouni was also recognized for his accomplishments this weekend by being named as a MIAC Athlete of the Week. Alhouni won all four of his matches on Saturday and has personal season records of 18-3 in singles play and 13-5 in doubles play.
Valentini and the team were very excited about the weekend’s results and the way they have competed in other recent games.
“Today was an important step forward for us,” Valentini said. “Our young guys were able to build trust in our approach and our leaders calmly embraced some big moments. We’re grateful that the results lined up with how we competed.”
“Our young guys were able to build trust in our approach and our leaders calmly embraced some big moments. We’re grateful that the results lined up with how we competed.” — Coach Tommy Valentini
The Men’s Tennis team hopes to maintain its winning streak and carry this momentum forward into its next conference matches on March 11, when the Gusties take on St. Olaf College, St. Mary’s University, and Luther College at Swanson Tennis Center.
