The Orange and Blue ended their four-game winning streak with a loss against Drexel this past Friday, Feb. 14. The team met the Dragons in South Williamsport hoping to come out with another victory but instead fell dramatically. The Bison were also supposed to compete against Duquesne on Sunday at home, but the match was postponed because of weather conditions.
The match started with doubles play. Dynamic duo Amar Tahirovic ’26 and Brendan McDonald ’26 bested their Drexel opponents 7-5. However, other pairs Oscar Bain Moreno de Vega ’26 and Adam Stavrakas ’26 and Nelson Alapi ’28 and Shiv Singh ’28 both lost their matchups 5-7 against the Dragons. These two losses gave Drexel the doubles point for the match, starting the Bison on a low note.
Despite the rough beginning, the team still won a few singles matches. Tahirovic demolished his opponent in two sets, 6-3, 6-2. His victorious efforts this past weekend awarded him Patriot League Tennis Player of the Week honors. This is the fourth consecutive week where a Bison has received the men’s award and the second time Tahirovic received the honor this spring season. Stavrakas, who won the award the two weeks before, also had a victorious singles match against Drexel. He posted a two-set win, 6-0, 6-0 against the Dragons. McDonald and Bain played close matches, both going to three sets. McDonald finished his singles match 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, while Bain posted a 7-6, 4-6, 6-7 loss. Alapi lost his match in two, finishing 4-6 in both sets. Felix Steindl ’28 put up a brave effort but took a 6-7, 2-6 defeat. These losses gave Drexel the final points to take the team match.
The Bison will be back this weekend, playing at Villanova on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m. They will then travel back to South Williamsport on Sunday to compete against Saint Joseph’s in the afternoon.
