Billy Tyler
Contributing Writer
The men’s tennis team wrapped up its fall season last weekend at the ITA Regionals in Charlottesville, Va. at the University of Virginia. The Bison played well, but were winless in their three matches against some of the best competition in the nation.
In the Orange and Blue’s first singles match of the day, Kelly Morque ’13 was matched up against Aaron Chaffee of William & Mary. The match was hard fought in the first set and seemed as if it could go either way. Unfortunately, Morque eventually fell to his opponent in two sets 7-6, 6-3. Evan Zimmer ’13 suffered a similar fate in his singles event against Jimmy Davis of George Mason. After a close first set, Zimmer was unable to hang on and was defeated in two sets by the score of 7-6, 6-2.
“[We] were very competitive in all our matches [and the tough competition in the tournament] helps prepare for the spring season because when you play the best, it only gets easier from there,” assistant head coach Craig Schwartz said.
The singles matches were followed by a doubles match that pitted Zimmer and Josh Katten ’13 against Ryan Shane and Jonathan Cornish of Virginia. The Bison were unable to get anything going off the serve and were eventually defeated by a score of 8-1.
“While we were not able to leave victorious, we were able to measure our skills against some of the top players in the nation,” Katten said.
The team will now head indoors for its indoor training and conditioning. The next match for the Bison will be the spring home opener against St. Francis (Pa.) on Feb. 2. The team’s performance in the fall season has left both the players and the coaches happy with the team’s current position and looking forward to the spring season. Going into his final season as a member of the Bison men’s tennis team, Katten is setting high expectations for the spring.
“I hope as a team that we can put our full efforts together and accomplish what we all want so badly: a Patriot League Championship,” Katten said.
