GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport University men's tennis team will get two stern tests this weekend when they play host to Grand Valley State and Ferris State on Saturday and Sunday. The Panthers come into the weekend with an overall record of 4-1 and have already defeated one NCAA DII foe in Lake Superior State but the Lakers and Bulldogs both will be tough competition and help head coach Patrick Grashorn gauge where his team is at before the GR City Tournament next weekend.

Davenport University men's tennis continues to impress as they opened their spring season with a dominating 8-1 victory over host and fellow #RV squad University of St. Francis (Ill.) last weekend. DU will get two even bigger challenges on Saturday and Sunday when they take on two of the GLIAC's best in GVSU and Ferris.

Head coach Patrick Grashorn sees much anticipation in playing two teams with the caliber of the Lakers and Bulldogs, stating “Besides our conference matches, GVSU and FSU are probably the most anticipated matches we have. They both have proven themselves as extremely strong programs and it would mean a lot for us, having only been around for four years, to take them down.”

Over the four-year history of the DU program, the team has played both Ferris and Grand Valley but has yet to come away with a win as they are 0-1 against the Bulldogs (9-0 setback last season) and 0-2 against the Lakers (lost 9-0 in 09/10 and 8-1 in 10/11). Davenport however has won their last two matches against GLIAC opponents as they defeated Lake Superior State earlier this season and also in 2011-12.

The two matches will be played at MVP's in the Grand Rapids area with Saturday's at the MVP Sportsplex on Burton and Sunday's at the MVP in Rockford. Grashorn believes this weekend will help his team prepare for next weekend's GR City Tournament as well.

“Doing well in the City Tournament is about staying healthy”, said Grashorn. “Our guys will play 5 or 6 matches in two days. We spend a lot of time in the off season preparing for long matches. I never want us to lose a match because we break down physically. It would mean a good deal to do well in the City Tournament. Although the format has changed and there is no longer team scoring, the more kids we can get to the finals sets the tone for our dual matches later in the season.”

Follow Davenport Athletics on: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | You Tube