The Golden Eagles improved to 7-5 and are riding their first three-game winning streak since they won four in a row between Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 after they defeated Illinois-Chicago.
Sophomore Jose Carlos Gutierrez Crowley performed to near-perfection during the weekend at No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles.
Crowley defeated Bradley freshman Hamish Weerasinghe in two quick sets, 6-2, 6-1. His win over Eastern Illinois sophomore Michael Sperry proved to be slightly more difficult in the first set, as Sperry forced a tie at four games a piece with an effective short game, but the match ended 6-4 in Crowley’s favor.
In doubles, Crowley and freshman partner Dan Mamalat rolled over Bradley sophomore Juan Cuadrado and freshman Arthur Romanet, 8-4, and Eastern Illinois freshman Charlie Dryden and Sperry, 8-6.
After three straight singles losses against Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Clemson, Crowley has rebounded with three consecutive wins.
As a whole, the men have regained consistency in doubles play after failing to gain the coveted doubles point in four of their last five matches.
“We’ve been talking a lot about how important it is for us to be in every single match and to not give a match away,” coach Steve Rodecap said. “It felt like our intensity was really good in doubles and set the tone for the day.”
Marquette dominated the weekend, as senior Jose Manuel Munoz was the only player to play a third set against Bradley’s Romanet. After falling 4-6 the first set, Munoz swept the last two 6-0, 6-0.
“When I lost the first set, coach talked to me and basically said ‘swing away, just enjoy it, you’ve worked hard, just go for it,’” Munoz said. “So I decided to play a little more aggressive, and it worked out.”
Freshman Logon Collins, who posted two more singles wins during the weekend, brought his record to an even 6-6 in dual matches.
“My backhand was struggling in the beginning of the season, but it’s gotten to the point where I just don’t make any more mistakes on it,” Collins said.
The men’s challenge against Bradley came in singles play, while Eastern Illinois posed a greater threat in doubles.
Both matches, however, were significantly less taxing compared to earlier season matches.
The men’s four-match losing streak earlier this month came at the hands of four ranked teams. The only team to shut out the Golden Eagles this season, Notre Dame, is ranked No. 26, according to College Tennis Online.
The team’s three other losses came at the hands of No. 40 Wisconsin, No. 56 Michigan State and No. 51 Clemson, along with a loss to Minnesota in the first match of the season, which was ranked No. 33.
The men will have to improve their play against elite competition if they hope to dethrone No. 37 Boise State at its invitational the weekend of March 25 and No. 64 DePaul on April 16. This upcoming weekend, Marquette will face off against Drake and Western Illinois.
