Men's Tennis Downs Rockhurst at Home

Friday, February 28

Plaza Tennis Center

2:00 PM

Kansas City

Rockhurst University

Men's Tennis Downs Rockhurst at Home

2/28/2020 7:08:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Final Results

Top of the Lineup Dominates in First Outdoor Match of the Year

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In its first outdoor match of the year, Kansas City Men's Tennis took care of Rockhurst, 6-1.

FINAL | Things went well today ??#KCRoos | #ROOUP | #DeclareKC | #KCcommitted pic.twitter.com/kCidJKM6ND
— Kansas City Tennis (@KCRoosTennis) February 28, 2020

Tom Kruse continued his hot play at two singles, winning in his first two set match of the year, 6-2, 6-2. His steady strokes from behind the baseline were too much for the Hawks' Nicolas Leon, as Kruse ran Leon all over the court from start to finish.

"Tom is leading us right now with good play every time he steps out," Head Coach Kendell Hale said. "That's the consistency that we're looking for."

At one singles, Diego Giraldo picked up his first win of the season, 6-4, 7-5. Giraldo was pitted against a tough opponent in the Hawk's Masao Perret, but stepped up when he needed to. He broke Perret on serve to take the match, avoiding a tiebreak.

"We're trying to get Diego playing at the caliber he was at the end of last year," Hale said. "He showed that today."

The difference of being outdoors showed for the majority of the match, and easy wins were hard to come by. Austin Williams was taken the distance, but pulled out both sets, 7-5, 6-4 at three singles. At four singles, Neil O'Connor struggled in the first set, but found a groove in the second, winning 6-4, 6-2. Jake Fraunfelder took a three set victory at five singles for the second match in a row, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

What a way to end it on court four ?? Neil O'Connor with the absolute laser on match point to take it, 6-4, 6-2.#KCRoos | #ROOUP pic.twitter.com/zkRuhV5Do8
— Kansas City Tennis (@KCRoosTennis) February 28, 2020

"We have to get used to outdoors a little bit," Hale said. "We need some confidence help there, we'll keep working on that."

The Roos played doubles for the first time since the Creighton match two weeks ago, sweeping the Hawks. Jake Fraunfelder and Austin Williams stood out in the two spot, winning 6-1.

Kansas City will be back in action next weekend, as they travel to Norman, Okla., for a match against the Sooners on Saturday.