The offseason was anything but easy for a men’s tennis team that vastly over-achieved in their 2012-2013 campaign. After losing three of its top players to graduation this summer, it’s hard to say what expectations are for a team that is sure to have its share of growing pains.
A nine game losing streak put the 2012-13 season in jeopardy, but strong play led by seniors Enej Bornin, Jens Vorkefeld and Max Krammer allowed the team to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history over No. 15 Florida. “Last year was a great year. We were the first team to beat a top 16 team in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Never been more proud of our guys,” said Head Coach Danny Westerman.
Building on such a strong and historic season will be difficult after losing leadership and talent that cannot be replaced.
“However, [the] team is training really hard and trying to get a lot of match play in. The whole goal of the fall is to get ready for the spring. Seniors Fabio Biasion and Alex Clinkenbeard are doing a great job helping our large freshman class mature and get ready for the season,” added Westerman.
This year’s freshmen class is the biggest in the tennis team’s history.
“Everything considered, the freshmen are doing an incredible job. They are working really hard and they understand it’s their turn.”
With three tournaments in the fall, the team is focused on training hard and being ready for a long and hopefully very successful spring.
The ITA Regional Championship on October 16 in Las Vegas is the last tournament that remains on the fall calendar. The team posted several wins at the ITA All-American Championship last month.
Sophomore Henry Craig made his way through three days of competition after following up a first round bye with a victory against Philip Seifert (Rice) 6-3, 6-4 and then winning against David Bisoca (East Tennessee State) 7-6 (0), (6-0) in the third round before being defeated by Brett Clark of North Carolina 6-3, 7-5 on Sep. 29. However he played a bonus match on October 1 and defeated Hunter Koontz.
Freshman Alex Gasson had a successful tournament as well. After securing a win in his first round match on Saturday, he went on to beat Augusto-Bueno 7-5, 7-6 (6) in the second round, but was defeated the following round in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to Nick Papac. He also played a bonus match on October 1, but was unsuccessful, losing to Joao Monteiro 6-2 4-6 6-2. The two played a double match, but unfortunately could not pull it out, losing to Harrison Richmond and Justin Shane (8-4). The team looks to build from a lot of strong play as they prepare for Las Vegas, a tournament in which they have been historically very successful.
