One of the hardest things as an athlete and a coach is to play a 3rd place match early the next day after a brutal set of matches the day before. We started warming up against Bowdoin and we definitely looked a little tired. It's hard for me to gauge the how we are going to play based on a warm up, but I was definitely a little worried.
I should not have been worried because our guys came our firing. We swept the doubles and had a great performance at 2 doubles. Jackson and Rocco, played great and ended the road trip on a positive note.
We kept the momentum going in singles. Rud at 1, was locked in and won a convincing first set. At 2, Halpern was facing a very good player who won his ITA regional event in the fall. Halp played his best match of the trip and won in straight sets. We won the first sets at 4-6 singles. Rafe was in another tough match and dropped the first set 7-5.
We ended the match winning all the singles except 3. It was a good way to end the trip and go home with a win.
Highlights of the trip:
-Will's come from behind win against the Gustavus, after being down 6 match points.
- Rud and Wag's win against APU's nbr 1 team.
- Rud's strong performance at 1 singles
- Halps win against Trinka
- Wag being solid at 5 getting us some much need wins
- Nick's win against Bowdoin in a 3rd set breaker
- Rocco and Jack's performance on the last day
- Halp and Brandon's win at 3 doubles against Gustavus
- Playing golf with Mr. Isaacs. I am glad he's on our team.
- Watching the Bryan Brothers
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Semi-finals match against Wash U
Our match began at 10:00am against Gustavus and ended at 1:30pm. We an hour and half to eat and get ready to play Wash U our rival and the number 1 team in the country. I was definitely concerned about our energy level considering the emotional match we just had and the number of 3 setters we just played. Wash U had to face the same deal as us, so excuses were not going to be acceptable.
Wash U was dominant at the Indoor tournament. They bullied there way through the draw so I was very curious to see how we would stack up against them. Wash U, also looked really strong in doubles.
We got off to a really quick start in doubles getting up early breaks at 1 and 3 doubles. At 2, were on serve for most of the match. Unfortunately, we could not keep the momentum going and ended up losing, 8-5,8-6, and 8-5. It's weird because I knew we were right there with them in doubles and just as good. So, here we go again, down 3-0.
The character of our team was going to be tested again. Rud, Wag, and Will, came out firing winning the first sets. Rafe was in a battle at 3 singles losing a heart-breaking tiebreaker. Halpern lost the first set to a very good freshman, and Nick, also, dropped the first set to one of their best spots in the lineup. Rud, Wag, and Will, gave dominating performances to secure us 3 points. Unfortunately, we ran out of steam at 2 and 4 singles and Rafe lost in 3rd set breaker.
Coming into the match, Wash U was the number 1 ranked team in the country they looked really strong at indoors. They are a very good team, but we have the ability to hang with them. We just cannot go down 3-0, and in doubles, it comes down to basic stuff. You can use formations etc... but, if you don't get high percentage of 1st serves in play and make returns, it doesn't matter.
I was proud of the teams effort considering our grueling match with Gustavus. We competed against Wash U and it was good for us to get a chance to play them before UAA's.
Wash U was dominant at the Indoor tournament. They bullied there way through the draw so I was very curious to see how we would stack up against them. Wash U, also looked really strong in doubles.
We got off to a really quick start in doubles getting up early breaks at 1 and 3 doubles. At 2, were on serve for most of the match. Unfortunately, we could not keep the momentum going and ended up losing, 8-5,8-6, and 8-5. It's weird because I knew we were right there with them in doubles and just as good. So, here we go again, down 3-0.
The character of our team was going to be tested again. Rud, Wag, and Will, came out firing winning the first sets. Rafe was in a battle at 3 singles losing a heart-breaking tiebreaker. Halpern lost the first set to a very good freshman, and Nick, also, dropped the first set to one of their best spots in the lineup. Rud, Wag, and Will, gave dominating performances to secure us 3 points. Unfortunately, we ran out of steam at 2 and 4 singles and Rafe lost in 3rd set breaker.
Coming into the match, Wash U was the number 1 ranked team in the country they looked really strong at indoors. They are a very good team, but we have the ability to hang with them. We just cannot go down 3-0, and in doubles, it comes down to basic stuff. You can use formations etc... but, if you don't get high percentage of 1st serves in play and make returns, it doesn't matter.
I was proud of the teams effort considering our grueling match with Gustavus. We competed against Wash U and it was good for us to get a chance to play them before UAA's.
Friday, March 28, 2014
STAG HEN
One of my thoughts throughout the course of the season was that we as a team were going to need to pull a close match. These types of matches if you come out on the winning side can help your team become closer and mentally tougher.
Gustavus, provided us with this opportunity. Our match was early in the morning and so it was imperative that we get off to a good start. Gustavus, historically, has been a team that always has strong doubles teams. After our outing against Azusa, I was feeling good about our doubles. Unfortunately, we got off to a very slow start.
Wag and Rud got down and early break and struggled to get back in the pro-set. Gustavus was also serving extremely well which didn't help. We ended up losing 8-5. At 2, we got down an early break as well and struggled to get the break back. We lost 8-6 at 2. Thankfully, Halp and Brandon, played great at 3 doubles and secured us a win. At this point, going into singles, I was confident that we would turn it up.
As the singles rolled out Gustavus would not give up to our singles lineup. We dropped the first sets at 2, 3, 5, and 6 singles. As I stated earlier, sometimes you need to be pushed to the brink, but, as a coach, this is not good for the heart. Rud and Nick jumped on there guys and secured the first sets. Halp was in a battle against a very tricky player. Rafe couldn't find his rhythm at 3 singles, and Halp and Will, who have been very strong for us, were also struggling.
At one point in the match it looked very bleak. Mentally, you cannot let yourself go to that place of doom, easier said than done, but, champions fight to the very last point. Rud and Nick closed out their matches, but Rafe lost in straight set. The match was tied at 3all. We would need to get 2 out of the 3 remaining matches which at the time looked to be a very difficult challenge. Halp was struggling with his opponent at 2 and Wag was down a set and a break in the second. Will found himself down 5-4 in the 2nd set. Our comeback came with Will. Will survived 6 matches down 5-4 in the 2nd to get the ball rolling. It was an unbelievable comeback for him. Will displayed a mental toughness in that match that I will never forget.
Will amazing won the 2nd and Wag also fought back and won the 2nd set. Halpern found his rhythm in the 2nd set won 6-4. We had the momentum but we all know how quickly it can go back to the other team. Halpern gutted a 7-5 win in the 3rd and Wags and Will pulled through!
We need this type of match as team and more importantly, the time we put into our fitness at practice clearly paid off. I have to give Gustavus a ton of credit and we learned as a team, that you can never, never underestimate your opponent!
Gustavus, provided us with this opportunity. Our match was early in the morning and so it was imperative that we get off to a good start. Gustavus, historically, has been a team that always has strong doubles teams. After our outing against Azusa, I was feeling good about our doubles. Unfortunately, we got off to a very slow start.
Wag and Rud got down and early break and struggled to get back in the pro-set. Gustavus was also serving extremely well which didn't help. We ended up losing 8-5. At 2, we got down an early break as well and struggled to get the break back. We lost 8-6 at 2. Thankfully, Halp and Brandon, played great at 3 doubles and secured us a win. At this point, going into singles, I was confident that we would turn it up.
As the singles rolled out Gustavus would not give up to our singles lineup. We dropped the first sets at 2, 3, 5, and 6 singles. As I stated earlier, sometimes you need to be pushed to the brink, but, as a coach, this is not good for the heart. Rud and Nick jumped on there guys and secured the first sets. Halp was in a battle against a very tricky player. Rafe couldn't find his rhythm at 3 singles, and Halp and Will, who have been very strong for us, were also struggling.
At one point in the match it looked very bleak. Mentally, you cannot let yourself go to that place of doom, easier said than done, but, champions fight to the very last point. Rud and Nick closed out their matches, but Rafe lost in straight set. The match was tied at 3all. We would need to get 2 out of the 3 remaining matches which at the time looked to be a very difficult challenge. Halp was struggling with his opponent at 2 and Wag was down a set and a break in the second. Will found himself down 5-4 in the 2nd set. Our comeback came with Will. Will survived 6 matches down 5-4 in the 2nd to get the ball rolling. It was an unbelievable comeback for him. Will displayed a mental toughness in that match that I will never forget.
Will amazing won the 2nd and Wag also fought back and won the 2nd set. Halpern found his rhythm in the 2nd set won 6-4. We had the momentum but we all know how quickly it can go back to the other team. Halpern gutted a 7-5 win in the 3rd and Wags and Will pulled through!
We need this type of match as team and more importantly, the time we put into our fitness at practice clearly paid off. I have to give Gustavus a ton of credit and we learned as a team, that you can never, never underestimate your opponent!
Spring Break Trip-recap
I apologize for falling behind with my match recaps. Our spring break trip is always one of the highlights of the year. Once again, we ventured out to LA for the Stag-Hen tournament held in Claremont, CA. One of the great highlights of the trip was taking the team out to Indian Wells. We were fortunate to watch the Bryan brothers play doubles.
Match #1: Azusa-Pacific
Every time we head to LA, we always play APU before we enter the Stag-Hen tournament. APU is always a very tough test for us, and since I have been here, we have only beaten them once. APU is currently the 10 ranked team in Division 2.
Since Indoors we made some lineup changes in doubles:
1. Ruderman/Wagner
2. English/Isaacs
3. Brandon Lee/Halpern
Rocco English and Brandon Lee were 2 new additions to our lineup. Rocco possesses the biggest serve on the team and Brandon is a natural doubles player with great instincts. Our hope was that this new lineup and the work we put in the last couple of weeks would give us a boost. (side note-Azusa match was our first outdoor match of the season, which has never happened, tells you crazy our weather has been this year in Atlanta)
We got off to a very good start in doubles. Wag and Rud won a big match playing against a very good team. We struggled a bit at 2 doubles, but we were in the match, unfortunately, we lost 8-6. Lee and Halpern played a great match at 3 doubles. It was the best doubles I had seen Halpern play since he's been here, and Brandon, was a rock. We were up 2-1 after doubles against a good team.
I knew going into singles we were going to have an uphill battle even with a 2-1 lead. We got off to a fairly good start. Wag, Nick, and Halp, each one their first sets. Rud, had a stern test a 1 singles and lost the first set. Rafe and Will both dropped the first sets at 3 and 5 singles. So, we needed to secure wins 2,4 and 5. As the match progressed, Rud, who has become a great competitor, won the 2nd set. Unfortunately, we dropped the 2nd sets at 2 and 4. Rafe and Will ended up losing, so now the match was tied 2-2.
Wagner played a great match and beat a very good player in straight sets. We had 3 matches left on the court playing the final set. Rud lost in 6-2 in the 3rd, but I was so proud of the way he competed after not being to find his rhythm in first set, he never gave in and battled the entire match. Halp was close to playing some of his best tennis but the heat and long points took their toll and he ended up losing 3 in the 3rd. Nick battled the entire 3rd set and lost a heartbreaking match 7-5 in the 3rd.
A loss is a loss, but this was definitely the best match we played as a team.
Match #1: Azusa-Pacific
Every time we head to LA, we always play APU before we enter the Stag-Hen tournament. APU is always a very tough test for us, and since I have been here, we have only beaten them once. APU is currently the 10 ranked team in Division 2.
Since Indoors we made some lineup changes in doubles:
1. Ruderman/Wagner
2. English/Isaacs
3. Brandon Lee/Halpern
Rocco English and Brandon Lee were 2 new additions to our lineup. Rocco possesses the biggest serve on the team and Brandon is a natural doubles player with great instincts. Our hope was that this new lineup and the work we put in the last couple of weeks would give us a boost. (side note-Azusa match was our first outdoor match of the season, which has never happened, tells you crazy our weather has been this year in Atlanta)
We got off to a very good start in doubles. Wag and Rud won a big match playing against a very good team. We struggled a bit at 2 doubles, but we were in the match, unfortunately, we lost 8-6. Lee and Halpern played a great match at 3 doubles. It was the best doubles I had seen Halpern play since he's been here, and Brandon, was a rock. We were up 2-1 after doubles against a good team.
I knew going into singles we were going to have an uphill battle even with a 2-1 lead. We got off to a fairly good start. Wag, Nick, and Halp, each one their first sets. Rud, had a stern test a 1 singles and lost the first set. Rafe and Will both dropped the first sets at 3 and 5 singles. So, we needed to secure wins 2,4 and 5. As the match progressed, Rud, who has become a great competitor, won the 2nd set. Unfortunately, we dropped the 2nd sets at 2 and 4. Rafe and Will ended up losing, so now the match was tied 2-2.
Wagner played a great match and beat a very good player in straight sets. We had 3 matches left on the court playing the final set. Rud lost in 6-2 in the 3rd, but I was so proud of the way he competed after not being to find his rhythm in first set, he never gave in and battled the entire match. Halp was close to playing some of his best tennis but the heat and long points took their toll and he ended up losing 3 in the 3rd. Nick battled the entire 3rd set and lost a heartbreaking match 7-5 in the 3rd.
A loss is a loss, but this was definitely the best match we played as a team.
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