INDOOR NATIONAL RESULTS

Division III tennis has gone through many changes over the years, but the move to the 9 point system has made the biggest impact on our game. At the start of each match, we send out 3 doubles for 3 points. Each match plays a proset, so generally, the fate of an entire match can be determined within 45 minutes. Being up 2-1 or down 1-2 is not overwhelmingly lead or deficit, but, to go down 3-0, against a good team, makes winning 5 out of the 6 singles matches a difficult task.

Johns Hopkins built a 3-0 lead in doubles. We had opportunity's in each match, but, Hopkins was better at each spot. They played more aggressive, served bigger, and played big on the important points.

The moral was definitely low, but, I also know that the character and leadership of this team would never allow our singles to pack it in facing a 3-0 deficit. Our match, was being played out on 3 courts, so, we sent out our top singles players. Ruderman, Mosetick, and Halpern.

Hopkins momentum in doubles carried through the singles as we dropped the first sets of each of the singles matches. At this point, the match looked like it would get out of hand, but then we started making our move. Ruderman, being down, a set, against a very talented and tricky freshman, showed the heart and resolve to find a way to pull out a 2nd set win. Halpern, lost a heart-breaking breaker in the first set, but, again, showed amazing courage, against a very talented player and pulled out a 2nd set win. Both Ruderman and Halpern, veterans, were able to secure their points by gutting a wins in the 3rd set. Halpern, battled cramps in third set, but, found a way to pull it out. The come back was beginning to take shape.

Szczurek, Wagner, and Adams, anchored our lineup at 4,5, and 6 singles. Nick, was playing another freshman, who on that day, looked like one of their better spots in Hopkins lineup.  He ran through Nick in the first, but Nick was able to find his rhythm in the 2nd, and more importantly, his composure allowed him to take the 2nd set. Meanwhile, Wagner, was overwhelming his guy, and Will won the first set at 6. It looked like we actually might pull out a miracle finish, but, Nick's opponent stepped his game up in the 3rd and secured Hopkins a win.

Losing is one of the worst feelings in life, period. As a team and group of individuals you always have a choice, you can sit there and feel sorry for yourself, point fingers, and go in the tank, or you can choose to get better. Thankfully, this team, decided to choose the latter. The next 2 matches would really define our group and set the course for the rest of the season.

Losing is painful in a tournament, but, what's also painful, is that you are relegated to difficult back draw starting times. Our match against Hopkins started at 2:30pm and didn;'t finish till around 9:30pmdidn't finish our team meeting and dinner until around 11:30pm. Our next match was schedule against a rival and nemesis, Kenyon  College, at 8:00am.

These matches are a coaches nightmare because you are playing in the back draw at 8:00am after a brutal match the night before. As a coach, you know that your team will still be carrying the emotional baggage from the previous match, there tired and beat up, and you are playing a good team. Thankfully, we found the energy, and our effort in doubles was much better. Halpern and Ruderman, rolled at 3 doubles to secure us a point. We lost at 1 doubles, which placed a great deal of pressure on Jackson and Nick, at 2 doubles. Jack and Nick, were playing well, but, Kenyon would not quit, and forced us into a breaker. Sometimes, you need to be taken the brink in order to boost the morale and confidence of the entire team. Jack and Nick, took their games to the next level, and secured us a critical win at 2 doubles, one of the biggest points of the match.

This time we were able to send out all 6 singles matches. Kenyon's top 3 singles players secured 1st set wins in each match, so our 2-1 lead, was not necessarily secure. Thankfully, Nick, Wags, and Will, came out and won their our first sets. At 1, Rud, was playing a very good player who has had a lot of success in D-3. Rud, fought and played hard, but Kenyon guy was able to secure the point. At 2, Kenyon, also to able to notch a straight set win. Halpern, at 3, battled back in the 2nd, and forced a 3 set with a player he lost to at the ITA National event in the fall. Wagner and Adams were in control of their matches and so it was going to come down to Halpern and Nick(4 singles). Nick, reminds of a boxer, who likes to get in the ring and just go toe to toe with his opponent. He's definitely not going to dance around the ring and avoid punches. His opponent was basically a mirror image of Nick. The points that these guys were playing was amazing and fun to watch. Nick, ended up losing a tight second set, so, with 2 matches on and in their final sets, we had a slim 4-3 lead. This is where mental toughness and character are formed in moments liked this, when the night before, you lose a close one, and now, you are faced with the same situation. Halpern, has come through for us on so many matches, but it wasn't his time, so, it came down, to Nick. Nick pulled out a huge match for us to secure us a win. Nick has matured so much over his 4 year career, and, I witnessed a young man in singles have complete emotional control on the court, and most importantly, he truly looked like he was enjoying the competition.

The win against Kenyon was incredibly important on so many different levels. It showed me that this team has heart and character and will rise to any challenge. Last night(Hopkins match), the top of our lineup, set the tone, against Kenyon, the bottom half of the lineup, pulled it out, with a the help of 1 and 3 doubles. Our match against Kenyon was done around 12pm. Our next match was against Redlands, at 5pm. We had 4 hours to eat lunch and physically recover. The thought of playing another good D-3 team in the same day was mentally exhausting, but, Redlands had to deal with the same scenario. What doesn't break you, makes you stronger.

We had not played Redlands in a few years, so, I had no idea about their lineup. One of the lessons that I continue to learn is that you should never ever take an opponent lightly, and using exhaustion as an excuse is unacceptable, considering our opponent is dealing with the same challenges. We came out extremely flat and found ourselves down 2-0 with number 1 dubs left on the court.  Our 1 doubles team had not won a match in the tournament, but thankfully, Rafe, lifted his level, and had his best performance. Their win at 1 was so important and gave us a little lift going into singles.

Halpern dominated his man at 3 singles and gave us a much needed boost. Rafe at 2 singles struggled over the weekend, but, too his credit, he never stopped competing, and was able to secure a win. The highlight of the match was Alex Ruderman. Alex dropped the first set against a very good player and look as though he was done. The Redlands guy went up 4-1 in the second, but Alex, who has shown uncanny resolve, kept fighting, and somehow, won the second set. Alex, in the 3rd, lifted his level  and won an unbelievable 3rd set match. Nick, Wag, and Will, picked up where they left off and got us another 3points, to help us sweep the singles.

As I stated before in the previous post, this tournament would be a litmus test to see where we are as a team. Losing is not fun, but, I would rather do it now, than at the end of the year. The key is to commit to fixing everything that is in our control and not to leave a stone unturned. Each player and coach needs to make personal commitment to make sure that we shore up our weaknesses. Obviously, when you win 3 out of 9 doubles matches, this area will become item number 1 on our agenda. 

Friday night, left everyone with a bad taste in their mouths, thankfully, the character of this team let it go and enabled us to finish the weekend with 2 wins.