Foresters Collect First Two Victories of 2020

Photo by Julie Lord
Photo by Julie Lord

Freshman Oleksyi Vyshyvanyuk won four times at the top of the lineup on Saturday as Lake Forest hosted and defeated Concordia University Wisconsin 5-4 and Carroll University 7-2 at the Racquet Club of Lake Bluff.

Vyshyvanyuk and senior Chase Garber started the afternoon match against Concordia Wisconsin with an 8-1 triumph at #1 doubles while freshman Jacob Tilton and junior Brant Christensen came out on top 8-5 at #2.

Leading 2-1 going into singles play, the Foresters added to their team points when Vyshyvanyuk took both sets 6-1 at #1. The Falcons, however, earned the points at #4 and #2 to tie the match. Sophomore Pratheek Mandalapu put the home team back on top with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at #3 but the contest was tied again after Concordia Wisconsin won at #5. The last match on the court was #6 singles and a third set super tiebreaker was needed to decide it with junior Oliver Gallego playing the role of hero for Lake Forest, edging out his opponent 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, (10-8).

The contest with Carroll started with a Lake Forest sweep in doubles. Vyshyvanyuk and Garber prevailed 8-4, Tilton and Christensen won 8-3, and Mandalapu teamed up with sophomore Zach Cho on an 8-6 victory at #3.

Vyshyvanyuk defeated the Pioneers' top singles player 3-6, 6-1, (10-7) and Garber clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph and #4. Mandalapu was 2-0 in singles on the day after a 6-4, 6-1 win and, after Carroll earned points at #2 and #5, Gallego closed out a long day at the club with a 6-3, 6-1 victory.

The Foresters improved to 2-1 on the season while Concordia Wisconsin fell to 1-1 and Carroll to 0-2.

Lake Forest will play two more home matches at Lake Bluff next Saturday against Roosevelt University at 2:30 p.m. and Milwaukee School of Engineering at 6:00.