The men’s tennis team suffered through its toughest stretch of the season this week, dropping matches to Amherst, Bowdoin, and Vassar, and falling to 5-6 overall and 0-3 in the NESCAC. Particularly devastating was the fact that the Cardinals were unable to capture a single doubles point in the last three matches, dropping a total of nine during the stretch.
In the team’s first match since spring break, the Cards opened up against a formidable lineup in #18 Amherst College on March 29. Although the Lord Jeffs were without two key starters, the Cards were unable to muster any kind of rally in the three doubles matches, with the Lord Jeffs led by a 3-0 margin early on. Still, the Cards did manage to win three of the singles matches in the 6-3 loss, thanks to Paul Gerdes ’09, Mike Frank ’08, and Matt O’Connell ’09 who pulled off straight sets victories at the fourth, fifth, and sixth singles spots, respectively. Even with the singles victories, the Cardinals failed to capitalize at the top of the singles lineup against an Amherst squad that lost their top three singles starters from a year ago.
“I had an excellent opportunity to win my match,” said tri-captain Tallen Todorovich ’07, who dropped a close 6-4, 6-3 decision at first singles. “But doubles has been the reason we haven’t been winning lately. We need to step up and be more aggressive at the net, which we haven’t been doing. We have to be as aggressive as tri-captain Jack Rooney ’07, aka ‘Officer Rooney,’ is when he uses his handcuffs in the bedroom.”
The second match of the spring was another stiff test for the tennis team, as they took on #16 Bowdoin College on Sunday. Once again, the Cards were lethargic in doubles play, dropping all three matches despite the top two players in the Bowdoin lineup sitting out with injuries. At one point, the Cards looked like they had a chance for victories in five of the singles match-ups. But despite their best efforts, the Cards eventually dropped four of the six matches in a 7-2 loss.
On Wednesday, the Cardinals faced Vassar College, a team they have defeated in convincing fashion each of the past three years. Playing indoors at Vassar on a lightning fast surface that threw the Cards off balance, the Brewers rolled to a 6-3 win behind an early 3-0 lead in doubles.
Still, the Cards singles play at the bottom of the lineup has been strong as of late. Perhaps the player who has been having the strongest season has been O’Connell. This spring, O’Connell boasts a dominating 6-1 record in singles play, cementing himself as one of the top six players in the conference.
“OC has been ballin’ lately,” Rooney said. “He’s been running over his opponents faster than a Daytona Beach police officer can write up a $200 citation for public urination on the beach.”
Frank has also played well, pulling off two consecutive victories against NESCAC opponents, using his overpowering ground strokes and smothering serve to wipe his opponent from Bowdoin off the court, coming out on top with a 6-0, 6-1 win. Frank also dominated in the previous match against Amherst, a 6-3, 7-6 victory.
“Mike completely demoralizes his opponents,” Rooney said. “His strategy is simple: just smack the crap out of the ball. He once made a comparison of his game to Leyton Hewitt. I think that’s pretty accurate.”
The Cards face another top NESCAC team in Colby College on Saturday, before preparing for an away match against Bentley next Thursday in non-conference action.
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