by Phillip Ericksen
Reporter
The 20th-ranked men’s tennis team beat the North Florida Ospreys 6-1 Thursday in Jacksonville, Fla.
The win brings the Bears to 6-1 and extends the team’s winning streak to four.
After dropping its first doubles point of the season, the team dominated in singles, winning all six matches.
No. 59 freshman Julian Lenz continued his strong play in the top spot, defeating No. 96 Moritz Buerchner 6-4, 6-2. The freshman has returned strongly from a knee injury that kept him sidelined at the beginning of this season.
Junior Patrick Pradella also played exceptional, winning 6-1, 6-0 in the second spot.
No. 56 sophomore Marko Krickovic won 6-2, 6-1 and No. 76 sophomore Mate Zsiga won 7-5, 6-3. The pair of ranked sophomores has been crucial to the team’s success this season.
Sophomores Tony Lupieri won 7-6 (5), 6-2 and Diego Galeano won 6-4, 6-4.
The Bears’ next match will be against the 16th-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla. It will be the team’s first matchup against a ranked team since its loss at Tulsa on Feb. 3.
Next Saturday, the team will host a home doubleheader against Laredo Community College at 11 a.m. and Abilene Christian at 3 p.m.
