On Wednesday, the Cards fell to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by a score of 5-3 in a match that saw some stunning upsets of Wesleyan players, but also a strong showing from the back end of the singles bracket.
“Everyone had a tough match against MIT,” said Alejandro Alvarado ’09. “It was a match to learn from.”
MIT swept the Cards in each of the eight-game pro-set style matches. At number one doubles, Jaafar Rizvi ’09 and Matt O’Connell ’09 are a formidable duo with O’Connell’s power and Rizvi’s explosion and reach at net. However, they couldn’t hold off MIT and, despite playing their serves well, fell 8-4.
Pauri Pandian ’08 and Alejandro Alvarado ’09 displayed skill and emotion in a number two doubles match that outlasted all other doubles events. Vocalizing his frustration during the grueling match, Pandian minded the net well with several decisive drop shots. Alvarado was able to squeeze blistering shots past opponents advancing to net, playing the doubles ally to perfection. However, the MIT pair seemed to outlast them, and they finally lost 7-9.
Max Schenkein ’08 and Matt Schaff ’11 returned to hold down the number three doubles spot. Schaff’s lefty serve seemed to stun the opposition, showing why the freshman is so hyped. Schenkein provided strong backhand play keeping the number three doubles alive. Yet, a final score of 6-8 left the Cards staring at a 0-3 hole while heading into the singles matches.
The front half of the singles bracket for Wesleyan didn’t have a great day. O’Connell’s showdown with MIT’s number one singles player was a ferocious battle. O’Connell broke serve in the first game and ended up winning the first set, coming from behind in a tie breaking the thirteenth game.
Though he dropped the second set 3-6, the entire match was called due to darkness, ending O’Connell’s chance to add to the Wesleyan points total. This wouldn’t have mattered, however, as Pandian lost 4-6, 3-6 at number two singles and Mike Frank ’08 lost 0-6, 0-6 at number three singles. These two losses combined with the earlier three doubles losses to give MIT the win.
The lone bright spot of the day came in the later half of the singles competition as Roy Chung ’09 (6-1, 6-4), Rizvi (6-0, 6-2) and Alvarado (6-2, 6-2) reeled off impressive wins at four, five and six singles, respectively. Playing on the far courts, these Cards seemed to feed off of one another and simply returned anything that MIT gave them with a tenacity that was too much for their opponents to handle.
The problem with many of the Cardinal matches seemed to be endurance. Points were continually lost during matches because Wesleyan couldn’t put the finishing touches on long rallies and ground stroke play. Across the board, for the first few strokes, the Cards looked sharp and aggressive. Either from fatigue or concentration, however, the players couldn’t maintain their effectiveness in long rally situations.
The team can mend this problem and possibly shake up the line up before its next dual match against Bates College on Sunday, Oct. 7.
“Bates will be a very tough match,” Alvarado said. “If we are playing well, though, we should definitely be able to take them.”