Home sweet home. After being swept in their away trips to Baylor, Tulsa and Oklahoma State, Wichita State men’s tennis put the ship back on course with a win over the University of Missouri-Kansas City 5-0. 

“We’re playing with good energy (at home),” sophomore Erick Reyes said. “We have confidence and we have two tough matches coming up against Creighton and Drake, but we’re ready.”

Reyes was the Shocker’s lone bright spot in their recent away game. He was the only player to win a point in any of the three matches. 

“I was down 1-6, 1-4. The conditions were tough, being so windy,” Reyes said about his victory at Baylor. “I just kept fighting to come back and take the second set 7-6, and then I won the third.”

Reyes helped lead the team against UMKC by setting the tempo early. He and doubles partner Ilija Cuic played with high energy to take the first doubles match 8-1. Their energy seemed contagious, sparking the doubles team of Tin Ostojic and Matheus Pereira to seal the doubles point for the Shocker team for the first time since March 16. 

Reyes finished first in singles competition as well, taking the match 6-1, 6-2. “The other guy had a good backhand,” Reyes said about his UMKC opponent. “He was solid from the baseline, but I think he got tired in the second set and made too many mistakes. I took advantage of that.”

The energy carried to head Coach Brad Louderback, who was more vocal in this good team win than he had been all season, jogging from court to court and shouting encouragement to his players as Guillermo Nichol, Matheus Pereira, and Tomislav Gregurovic, who finished their singles matches with victories.

“We came out and played three good doubles matches, and everyone played well in the singles,” Louderback said. “I was just happy with everything today. We start conference play Friday and I think we’re ready. We’ve got to be.”