Spring Break
Men's tennis sets sights on national tourney
Issue date: 5/1/08
It was a festive atmosphere at Hopkins this past weekend, and the 15th ranked men's tennis team enjoyed a festive weekend in Baltimore as well, defending its Centennial Conference Championship title with 5-0 wins on consecutive days over Washington College and Haverford.
The Blue Jays entered the tournament as the number one seed, and faced the fourth-seeded Washington College Shoremen on Saturday in the semi-finals at Hopkins. The Jays blanked Washington 9-0 earlier in the season, and was looking to keep up the momentum they had built throughout the latter portion of the regular season, looking to remain undefeated against conference foes.
"We made sure to keep our focus knowing that beating a team twice in the same season is hard," said senior Rafael Roberti. "We knew they would come out strong. We just came out with more intensity. "
Hopkins's three doubles teams got the ball rolling on another shutout, as the three pairs lost a combined four games. Freshman Casey Blythe and senior Joe Vasoontara won 8-1 at first doubles, seniors Matt Naftilan and Roberti won 8-2 at third doubles, and sophomore David Maldow and freshman Andrew Wang won 8-1 at second doubles.
"Doubles are so important because they set the tone for the singles. Our team came out firing and took a quick 3-0 lead, so the momentum was on our side," Maldow said.
Wang then proceeded to win third singles 6-1, 6-0, followed by Roberti winning at sixth singles with a 6-1, 6-2 win, the 98th victory of his career. Since in the Centennial Conference tournament they play a best of nine series, Hopkins's five wins clinched a victory for them, halting the four other matches.
The championship finals on Sunday would pit Hopkins against Haverford, who the Blue Jays defeated 5-1 last year in Baltimore for the Centennial Conference crown.
But due to rainy and cold weather, the matches were moved from Hopkins's outdoor courts to the indoor courts at the Cross Keys Athletic Club, about three miles from Homewood.
The Blue Jays entered the tournament as the number one seed, and faced the fourth-seeded Washington College Shoremen on Saturday in the semi-finals at Hopkins. The Jays blanked Washington 9-0 earlier in the season, and was looking to keep up the momentum they had built throughout the latter portion of the regular season, looking to remain undefeated against conference foes.
"We made sure to keep our focus knowing that beating a team twice in the same season is hard," said senior Rafael Roberti. "We knew they would come out strong. We just came out with more intensity. "
Hopkins's three doubles teams got the ball rolling on another shutout, as the three pairs lost a combined four games. Freshman Casey Blythe and senior Joe Vasoontara won 8-1 at first doubles, seniors Matt Naftilan and Roberti won 8-2 at third doubles, and sophomore David Maldow and freshman Andrew Wang won 8-1 at second doubles.
"Doubles are so important because they set the tone for the singles. Our team came out firing and took a quick 3-0 lead, so the momentum was on our side," Maldow said.
Wang then proceeded to win third singles 6-1, 6-0, followed by Roberti winning at sixth singles with a 6-1, 6-2 win, the 98th victory of his career. Since in the Centennial Conference tournament they play a best of nine series, Hopkins's five wins clinched a victory for them, halting the four other matches.
The championship finals on Sunday would pit Hopkins against Haverford, who the Blue Jays defeated 5-1 last year in Baltimore for the Centennial Conference crown.
But due to rainy and cold weather, the matches were moved from Hopkins's outdoor courts to the indoor courts at the Cross Keys Athletic Club, about three miles from Homewood.
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