The UR men’s and women’s tennis teams started their spring season off this past Sunday with impressive wins for both teams against the Le Moyne College Dolphins. The ‘Jackets hosted the Dolphins on the Goergen Athletic Center indoor courts. With the win, the women remain undefeated and increase their winning streak of dual matches to four. The men improved their record for dual matches this season to 3-2.
The women’s team played very well, winning all nine matches, although three were due to defaults, as well as having two double winners. Freshman Lia Weiner won at the No. 1 singles spot, defeating her opponent in two sets, 6-0, 6-2. Weiner also won No. 1 doubles, 8-5, with teammate senior Alexa Perry. The other singles winner was senior Colleen Cross, who beat her opponent, 6-0, 6-1, at the No. 2 singles spot. Cross and teammate freshman Elana Polivy won, 8-1, at No. 2 doubles.
Other singles winners included freshman Diane Samuels and junior Kristen Shaw. Samuels recovered from losing her first set, winning in a tiebreaker, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), at the No. 3 singles spot. Shaw took No. 4 singles, beating her opponent, 6-2, 6-1.
The Dolphins, who only had four players, were forced to default at No. 3 doubles as well as No. 5 and No. 6 singles.
During the fall season, the ‘Jackets beat the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles, the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers and the Nazareth College Golden Flyers, 9-0, 9-0 and 8-1, respectively.
During the Intercollegiate Tennis Association regionals, the ‘Jackets had two players advance – Weiner in singles and the team of Weiner and Perry in the doubles competition. Weiner reached the quarterfinals of the singles draw and advanced to the semifinals with Perry. She also reached the finals at the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association Championships.
For the men, each of the doubles and singles teams won its matches against Le Moyne. In singles, sophomore Brian Bowman won at No. 1 singles, winning in two matches, 6-2, 6-4. Freshman Ryan Kovaleski won, 6-1, 6-1, at the No. 2 singles position. Bowman and Kovaleski then combined together at the No. 1 doubles spot to beat their opponents, 8-1.
At No. 3 singles, freshman Bennett Peterson posted another win for the ‘Jackets, dominating his opponent in a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Teammate freshman Patrick Sheehan won No. 4 singles with ease, 6-2, 6-2.
Peterson and Sheehan also teamed up to win No. 2 doubles, defeating their competitors from Le Moyne in a relatively close match, 8-4.
Freshman Daniel Barbash, making his debut for the ‘Jackets, won at No. 5 singles, 6-0, 7-6 (2). Freshman Adam Crosby finished the sweep of the singles matches with a 2-6, 6-1, 10-6 win at No. 6 singles. Barbash a commanding win in the No. 3 doubles spot, 8-2.
“The team played very solid tennis against Le Moyne,” assistant coach Matthew Nielsen said. “We were especially pleased with our doubles performance. The guys played with lots of aggression and intensity.”
During the fall, the men went 2-2, with losses to the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons, 4-5, and the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, 2-5. Their wins came against the Hobart College Statesmen, 5-0, and the St. John Fisher College Cardinals, 6-3.
At the ITA Regionals Championship, Bowman and Kovaleski were runners up in the doubles competition in a very close match. Bowman and Kovaleski also combined together to win the Flight A Doubles Competition at the St. Lawrence University Fall Men’s Tennis Classic.
“We have a young, talented team who work hard and are eager to learn,” Nielsen said.
The ‘Jackets will try to keep their winning streak alive on Sunday when they visit the undefeated Colgate University Red Rangers, who currently boasts a 4-0 record.
After Colgate, the ‘Jackets will be heading to Orlando, Fla. for their spring break trip, in which matches will be played but have yet to be determined. The women will then host Skidmore College and then travel to Brandeis University, Babson College and St. Lawrence University. The men have only away matches for the rest of their season, traveling to Nazareth College, Hobart College, Brandeis, Babson and St. Lawrence. Following the regular season the ‘Jackets will be going to the University Athletic Association’s Championships.
Belonga is a member ofthe class of 2010.
