GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport men's tennis team might have been a little bit rusty on Friday in the GLIAC opener against No. 24 Ferris State. The Panthers were playing back-to-back nationally-ranked teams but haven't played since the end of their spring trip back on Feb. 28. Last time out was a 4-0 loss to current No. 8 Florida Southern. This time out, it was another tough test in the Bulldogs to start conference action. The match was hosted indoors at the Grand Rapids Racquet Club with snowy weather still lingering in the Grand Rapids area. Davenport dropped a 6-1 decision to Ferris State which has now won the last 10 matches against the Panthers.
The Bulldogs started off with a doubles point having won at the number two and three flights. The duo of
Jan Stolin and
Subash Paramasivam had a very impressive 6-2 win at one doubles against Jan Koupil and Benjamin Lortie who are currently ranked No. 27 as a tandem in Division II.
Stolin battled in the first set at one singles against Esunge Ndumbe 7-5 but did not have the answers in the second set at 6-1. Paramasivam got a win at two singles against Lortie by scores of 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 showing his determination to fight back. The Bulldogs would win the last four singles flights with straight set wins at the three, four, and five flights.
Simone Pacciolla at six singles took Erik Kovacs to a third set. He won 7-5 and then Kovacs rallied at 6-3, 6-1 for the victory.
The Panthers (10-8, 0-1) will face Grand Valley State tomorrow (Mar. 23) at 5:00 PM inside Premier Tennis in Grandville, Mich. The Panthers will be looking to snap a four-match losing streak against the Lakers.
