Lords Lose Close Matchup to Rockets
Mark Motheral
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports
Last weekend, the sixth-ranked Lords tennis team traveled to Toledo, Ohio, to face a formidable Division I opponent in the University of Toledo Rockets. Although the Lords had only four days to practice for the match, they still represented Division III athletics well by keeping the match close from start to finish, but ultimately fell just short of victory, losing 4-3.
The Lords and Rockets started the match by splitting second and third doubles. In third doubles, Toledo's number three team, Bryant Dudzik and Terence Weigland beat Kenyon's number three team, Charlie Brody '10 and Kevin Ye '13 in routine fashion, 8-4. But Tomas Piskacek '10 and Jeremy Polster '11, Kenyon's number two doubles team, struck back for the Lords by posting an 8-6 victory over the Rockets' number two team, Sven Burus and Aleksander Elezovic. Thus, the all-important doubles point would have to be resolved by the number one doubles match, which featured Mike Greenberg '10 and Will VandenBerg '10 versus Nutthavit Likitkumch and Leo Sarria. Though Greenberg and VandenBerg fought hard, they ultimately lost in a tiebreaker, 9-8, and the doubles point went to Toledo.
Despite some strong performances in singles play, the Lords could not overcome their early disadvantage. Kenyon received key victories from Polster, VandenBerg and Piskacek. But, there was a Lords loss to match every Lords victory, as Paul Burgin '13, Brody and Greenberg all fell in straight sets. It ought to be mentioned, however, that Greenberg lost two tight sets at first singles, 7-5, 7-6. These losses sealed the Lords' fate by giving Toledo the four points necessary to win.
Scott Thielke, the Lords' head coach, was disappointed that his team did not win, but also contended that the Lords still proved their worth. "I felt we could win against Toledo," Stanley said. "It was actually disappointing to lose a match that we certainly could have won. Losing a tiebreaker at number one doubles and then not competing at number three doubles made the difference. … [But] this match shows us again that we are right there with the best."
The Lords and Rockets started the match by splitting second and third doubles. In third doubles, Toledo's number three team, Bryant Dudzik and Terence Weigland beat Kenyon's number three team, Charlie Brody '10 and Kevin Ye '13 in routine fashion, 8-4. But Tomas Piskacek '10 and Jeremy Polster '11, Kenyon's number two doubles team, struck back for the Lords by posting an 8-6 victory over the Rockets' number two team, Sven Burus and Aleksander Elezovic. Thus, the all-important doubles point would have to be resolved by the number one doubles match, which featured Mike Greenberg '10 and Will VandenBerg '10 versus Nutthavit Likitkumch and Leo Sarria. Though Greenberg and VandenBerg fought hard, they ultimately lost in a tiebreaker, 9-8, and the doubles point went to Toledo.
Despite some strong performances in singles play, the Lords could not overcome their early disadvantage. Kenyon received key victories from Polster, VandenBerg and Piskacek. But, there was a Lords loss to match every Lords victory, as Paul Burgin '13, Brody and Greenberg all fell in straight sets. It ought to be mentioned, however, that Greenberg lost two tight sets at first singles, 7-5, 7-6. These losses sealed the Lords' fate by giving Toledo the four points necessary to win.
Scott Thielke, the Lords' head coach, was disappointed that his team did not win, but also contended that the Lords still proved their worth. "I felt we could win against Toledo," Stanley said. "It was actually disappointing to lose a match that we certainly could have won. Losing a tiebreaker at number one doubles and then not competing at number three doubles made the difference. … [But] this match shows us again that we are right there with the best."
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