Men's Tennis 8/31/2025 2:49:00 PM Kyle Jones

Men’s Tennis Capture Split On Opening Weekend

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Webster University men's tennis team opened the 2025 with a pair of home matches against Westminster College and Illinois College on Saturday. The Gorloks earned their first victory of the season with a 7-0 shutout victory over Westminster but fell in the nightcap to IC by the score of 2-5.

Match #1: Webster 7, Westminster 0

In the season opening match against Westminster, Webster jumped out to an early advantage with two doubles victories. In the number one doubles match, Eli Bartek and Jack Forlenza partnered up and blanked their opponents to a 6-0 victory. In addition, the team of Tyler Gonzales and Griffin Olson played their first match as partners and won the match with a 6-1 victory. The Gorloks won the third doubles match by default.

In single play, the Gorloks kept the momentum going and won all four singles matches that led to the victory. In the number one singles match, Bartek lined up against David Murillo-Martinez and jumped out to an early lead in both sets for the 6-1 and 6-2 victory.

Olson made his collegiate singles debut in the second singles match against Mitch Bashfield and defeated Bashfield in straight sets by the identical scores of 6-1. In the third singles match, Forlenza was tasked against Robert Lewis as Forlenza blanked Lewis in straight sets by the scores of 6-0. Shawn Smith made his season debut in the fourth singles match against Matt Martucci and shutout Martucci by the score of 8-0.

Match #2: Webster 2, IC 5

In the nightcap match against IC, the Gorloks and Blueboys earned a split in the two doubles matches that were played. In the number one doubles match, the duo of Bartek and Forlenza took the early lead and paced to a 6-3 victory. In the number two doubles match, the team of Griffin and Gonzales captured one set victory but dropped the match by the score of 1-6.

The close battle continued into singles play as the Gorloks won two singles matches. In the number one singles match, Bartek was tasked against Jeff Wernsing. In the opening set, Bartek jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 6-0 set victory. In the second set, both student-athletes exchanged set victories that led to a tie at five apiece. With the set tied, Bartek closed out the match with back-to-back set victories for the 7-5 win and his first of the season. as he jumped blanked Wernsing

In the second singles match, Olson lined up against Tejas Zala and opened the match with a 6-3 victory. In the second set, Zala countered with a 6-2 victory that forced a third set. In the third set, Olson got out to an early lead and stayed ahead for a 10-6 victory that secured his first collegiate win.

Forlenza played in the number three singles match against Adi Basic as both student-athletes battled back-and-forth in the opening set. Late in the opening set, Basic took the edge and won the set 6-4. In the second set, Forlenza captured one set victory, However, in the third set, Forlenza jumped out to an early lead and paced to a 10-6 set victory.

Smith made his appearance in this match at number four singles against Glenn Conway. Smith was tasked with a tough opponent and captured one set victory in the match.

In the final singles match of the day, Gonzales lined up against Andrus Dupree as this match went the distance. In the opening set, Gonzales and Dupree went back-and-forth and tied it up at five apiece. WU's Gonzales closed out the set with back-to-back set victories for the 7-5 victory. In the second set, Dupree responded with a 6-2 victory over Gonzales that forced a third set. In the third set, both student-athletes continued to battle with back-and-forth play. Late in the set, Gonzales added a set victory but fell by the score of 5-10.

The Gorloks will hit the road for the first time this season to the state of Indiana on Saturday, September 6 for two matches against Franklin College and Trine University.

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Players Mentioned

Jack Forlenza: Junior

Tyler Gonzales: Sophomore

Eli Bartek: Freshman

Shawn Smith: Freshman

Griffin Olson: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jack Forlenza
: Junior

Tyler Gonzales
: Sophomore

Eli Bartek
: Freshman

Shawn Smith
: Freshman

Griffin Olson
: Freshman