Blue Devils Men Edge Ashland 4-3; Women Battle to 3-4 Decision in Southfield
Lawrence Tech men’s tennis earned a tight 4-3 victory while the Blue Devils women dropped a hard-fought 3-4 decision against Ashland University in a dual match Saturday in Southfield, Mich. The men’s side used a clean sweep in doubles and three singles wins to secure the team result, while the women produced three gritty singles victories in a back-and-forth contest.
On the men’s courts, doubles play set the tone for the Blue Devils. The pairing of Takuya King and Carlos Patricio rolled to a 6-2 win, staking Lawrence Tech to early momentum with a decisive performance. Augustin Patte and Cael Guthrie followed with a tense 7-6 victory, delivering under pressure in the tiebreak to lock up the doubles point. The third team of Jack Minhinnett and Alessandro Gatto completed the sweep with a 6-4 win, giving the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
Lawrence Tech then converted that advantage behind steady play at the top and middle of the men’s singles lineup. Patte turned in one of the most efficient efforts of the day, claiming straight sets 6-2, 6-2 with consistent baseline pressure and clean service games. King backed that up with a 6-3, 6-4 decision, maintaining control in key moments to push the Blue Devils closer to the team victory. Guthrie provided the clinching point in a three-set battle, outlasting his opponent 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 by responding to a dip in the second set with a strong, composed finish in the third.
Ashland picked up the remaining men’s singles courts to tighten the final margin, but the early doubles dominance and three singles wins ensured the Blue Devils men closed out the 4-3 team result. The match showcased depth across the Lawrence Tech lineup, with contributions from all three doubles teams and multiple singles flights.
On the women’s side, Lawrence Tech responded to an early team deficit with a trio of resilient singles performances. Jackie Alcocer battled through momentum swings to take a three-set win, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, grinding out long rallies and closing strong in the deciding set. Isabella Aray added a straight-sets victory, 6-3, 6-4, using consistent returns and timely holds to secure another point for the Blue Devils.
The most dramatic finish on the women’s courts came from Paola Herrera, who pulled out a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory. After cruising through the opening set, Herrera regrouped following a second-set setback and edged a tight third set to give Lawrence Tech a third singles point. Despite those strong efforts, Ashland secured the remaining women’s courts to claim the overall women’s match 3-4.
With the split against Ashland, the Blue Devils men carry momentum into the heart of their spring schedule, buoyed by a sweep in doubles and multiple straight-sets wins. The women’s team showed depth and resilience in singles that should translate into future duals as Lawrence Tech continues its home stretch and prepares for conference play.
