Box Score 1 ST. PETER, Minn. – North Dakota men's tennis took on a Saturday doubleheader on the road and emerged with a pair of victories to end a five-match losing streak after taking down Gustavus Adolphus and Morningside.
 
North Dakota vs Gustavus Adolphus – W, 5-2
The pair of Christos Alex and Darrshan Suresh Kumar were the only winning UND duo in doubles play, walking away with a 6-3 win from the No. 3 as the Gusties took 6-2 and 6-4 wins from the top and middle positions, respectively.
 
North Dakota quickly turned things around in singles play, securing the first four matches of one-on-one action. Suresh Kumar collected the first point with his dominating 6-1, 6-2 win at the No. 2 court and was joined in quick fashion by a 6-3, 6-2 win from the No. 4 spot by Kotaro Matsumura.
 
Walker Valentine cruised his way to victory at the No. 6 court with his convincing 6-2, 6-1 win to make it a 3-1 lead for the visitors. The match was clinched from the top spot as Leo Galliano won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Despite dropping a match at the No. 5 court, Justin Ilic closed the first match of the day with his gritty 6-4, 7-6 victory at spot No. 3 for the 5-2 team win.
 
North Dakota vs Morningside – W, 4-3
Alex and Suresh Kumar kept their doubles momentum rolling against the Mustangs, this time grabbing a hot 6-2 win from the No. 2 position to kick off competition. The duo of Ilic and Cole Wilber followed that up with a tough 6-4 win from the No. 3 spot to clinch the doubles point and put UND ahead, 1-0. Action at the top spot went unfinished, with Galliano and Valentine tied 5-5.
 
Singles play showed a continuation of Suresh Kumar's domination on the day as he again powered his way to a 6-1, 6-0 win at the No. 2 court. Galliano worked his way to a 7-6 first set win before settling in for the 6-3 win in the second set.
 
With the Fighting Hawks now ahead 3-0, Morningside rallied back to tie up the match. The Mustangs took a 7-5, 6-0 win from the fourth court and a 6-3, 7-5 win at the No. 3 spot before a 6-3, 7-6 win at the No. 5 position fully tied the match.
 
All eyes turned to the bottom court where the freshman and Grand Forks-native Wilber was going to work. He dropped a close first set, 6-4, and rallied back for the 7-5 second set win to force a third. Wilber then emerged victorious with a 6-4 set win of his own to secure his first singles win of the season and clinch the 4-3 win for UND.
 
North Dakota men's tennis will make its anticipated return home for a Friday evening match on February 20 against Augustana at 6 p.m. inside Choice Health & Fitness.

For more information on North Dakota men's tennis, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmtennis.