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Wayne State University Athletics

1
Wayne State WSUM (26-5)
4
Winner Barry BARRY-M (22-5)
Wayne State WSUM
(26-5)
1
Final
4
Barry BARRY-M
(22-5)
Winner
Men's Tennis Photo Shoot 2022
The Warriors finish the season as the NCAA Division II Runner-Up.

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Men's Tennis Finishes Season as National Runner-Up

The Warriors finished the season with 26 wins, which is tied for second most in program history.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- The Wayne State University men's tennis team (26-5 overall) had its historic season come to an end in the Division II National Championship with a 4-1 loss to Barry (22-5 overall) on Sunday afternoon at Sanlando Park in Florida.  The Green and Gold started the season unranked in the initial Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Poll, which was released in January, and finished the campaign as the Division II Runner-Up.

Throughout the year, the Warriors collected the GLIAC regular season and tournament championships, along with a Midwest Region Championship.  The Warriors beat Lewis and Grand Valley State in the Midwest Regional to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in program history.  On its way to the title match, Wayne State earned wins against Southern New Hampshire (Round of 16 / 4-0), Embry-Riddle (NCAA Quarterfinals / 4-3) and Columbus State (NCAA Semifinals / 4-3).  

The Warriors' 26 wins were tied for the second-most in program history, and WSU was the first Midwest Region team to reach the Division II National Championship since 2002 (Drury).  Wayne State ended the year winning 15 of its last 16 matches. 

DOUBLES
The Warriors fought hard in doubles, but ultimately came up short, falling at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots.  Cedric Drenth (Sulzbach, Germany) and Daniel Grey (Wiesbaden, Germany) were upended at the top spot, 4-6.  That duo finished the year with 24 wins.  

Ben Lakeman (Penzance Cornwall, England) and Niklas Karcz (Bottrop, North Rhine, Westphalia, Germany) dropped their match at No. 3 doubles, 2-6.  The pair was 16-8 on the year. 

Dom Spicer (London, England) and Luke Laws (Sunderland, England) were up 4-3 at No. 2 doubles when play was stopped.  The two sophomores earned a 14-3 record at No. 2 doubles and 20-6 overall mark. 

SINGLES
Barry took a 2-0 lead, with Lakeman falling 0-6, 2-6 at the No. 2 spot of the lineup.  Despite the loss, Lakeman was terrific throughout the season, recording a 20-6 overall record. 

However, Grey pulled the Warriors back within one (2-1), collecting a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 4 singles.  The win gave him 24 on the year, which is tied for the third most victories in a season in program history. 

But Barry would close the match out from there, earning wins at the No. 3 and No. 5 spots.  Drenth was upended, 5-7, 1-6, at No. 5 singles.  Even with the loss, Drenth shattered the school record for wins in a season.  He posted a 30-7 overall record.  The previous record was 24 wins. 

Karcz fell at the No. 3 flight, 2-6, 5-7.  Karcz became the program's all-time winningest player in singles this season.  He has 78 career wins.  He posted 26 victories this season, which was good for the second best mark in school history.  He was 21-1 at No. 3 singles, with the only loss coming to Barry in the National Championship. 

Spicer and Laws didn't get to complete their matches due to the Buccaneers clinching the championship.  Spicer was tied in a third set, while Laws was down a set, but leading the second.  Spicer finished the year with 23 wins, which is the sixth most in a season in program history.  Laws went 17-7 in singles play and won his last 12 matches to end the year. 

UP NEXT
The Warriors shift their focus to the offseason and preparing for the upcoming fall season.  Though Wayne State's roster isn't finalized, the Warriors have the ability to return more than half of their starting lineup from this season. 

 
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