Men's Tennis Picks up First Win of Season over ORU

Friday, February 21

Woodside Tennis Club

1:00 PM

Kansas City

Oral Roberts University

Men's Tennis Picks up First Win of Season over ORU

2/21/2020 5:23:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Final Box

Tom Kruse Wins in Three Sets; Both Freshmen Earn First-Career Victories in Win

KANSAS CITY - The Kansas City Men's Tennis team picked up its first win of the season on Friday, defeating Oral Roberts, 4-2. The Roos got help all around the lineup, with two-time WAC Player of the Week Tom Kruse picking up his second three-set win of the year, and two freshmen picking up their first-career victories.

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VAMOS ???? Some ?? from the men's first win of the season vs. Oral Roberts #KCRoos | #ROOUP

A post shared by Kansas City Tennis (@kcroostennis) on Feb 21, 2020 at 2:30pm PST

"We've still got a lot of work to do," Head Coach Kendell Hale said. "But I think we showed some good fight, and got a good team win."

Kruse has been a highlight for the Roos in the early season. He won WAC Singles Player of the Week two weeks ago with a three set win over Wichita State, and paired with Diego Giraldo to take the WAC Doubles of the Week award this past week.

"I feel pretty confident right now," Kruse said. "Maybe I can make some changes so I win in two sets, because they've all been pretty tight so far."

Match point at two singles - Tom Kruse picks up the 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory and the Roos win, 4-2??#KCRoos | #ROOUP | #DeclareKC | #KCcommitted pic.twitter.com/eNdnPtTy1D
— Kansas City Tennis (@KCRoosTennis) February 21, 2020

In all four of Kruse's singles matches so far this season, he's been taken to a full three sets. Today, he fell in the first set, 4-6, before rattling off the next two sets, 6-3, 6-4.

"We made some adjustments in the strategy (between sets two and three) that I used," Kruse said. "I was up in the first set by a game, and then suddenly my opponent changed his strategy. I didn't respond to that well so going into the second set we made some adjustments and luckily they paid off."

At the four spot, Neil O'Connor picked up his first win of the year, in just his second match since returning from injury. He faced a tough opponent in the Golden Eagle's Mert Celik, who made the match as much a test of mental fortitude as it was physical ability.

"Neil really showed his mental toughness, which helped him through that one," Hale said.

At five and six singles, the Roos' youth came through in a big time way. Jake Fraunfelder pulled out a three set victory, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, at the five spot for his first collegiate victory. Kacper Piekarek pulled off his first victory as well, needing a first set tiebreaker, but breezing through the second set, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

The Roos have a week off before taking on Rockhurst University next Friday at 2 PM. The match will be played at the Plaza Tennis Center. Should weather be uncooperative, it will be rescheduled for a different day.