Men's tennis has rough start
By: Sara-Foster Fabiano
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports
With a new ranking of 59th in the nation, the Furman men's tennis team headed to Gainesville, Fla., to kick off the 2010 season.
Despite high hopes the season started with a sputter as the Paladins were handed their first two defeats by #11 Florida and #55 Penn State.
Though the snow did not quite reach Florida, rain delayed the start of the day's matches which prevented the doubles point from being played.
The Gators clinched the first match 4-0 and moved to a 2-1 record while the Paladins dropped to 0-1, with losses at the number 1, 3, 4 and 5 spots.
Though the heavy weather was lifted, the Paladins only fared slightly better on Sunday against Penn State.
Junior Sawyer Duncan claimed a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory at the number one singles spot over Ryan Gormley while senior Jordan Walters and junior Andrei Chvetsov nabbed a 9-7 win at the number three doubles spot against Taylor Cohen and Guillaume St-Maurice.
Freshman Andrew Mellow and junior Sawyer Duncan posted a close 9-8 loss at number two doubles to Ryan Gormley and Warren Hardie.
At number four singles, Carl Lundberg lost in another close match to St. Maurice, 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (10-6). The Paladins 6-1 loss took them to a 0-2 record as they head to Tallahassee, Fla., to play Florida State Friday Feb 5.
While the first two matches did not go the Paladins' way, the team understands that it may face adversity.
Before the season started, senior Chris Rhyne had confidence in his team.
"We lost a lot of great players, which has been hard but with hard work and lots of heart we should be ready for what this season will throw at us," Rhyne said.
Though the start to the season has not been ideal, the Paladins still have the heart and drive to carry them through.
Despite high hopes the season started with a sputter as the Paladins were handed their first two defeats by #11 Florida and #55 Penn State.
Though the snow did not quite reach Florida, rain delayed the start of the day's matches which prevented the doubles point from being played.
The Gators clinched the first match 4-0 and moved to a 2-1 record while the Paladins dropped to 0-1, with losses at the number 1, 3, 4 and 5 spots.
Though the heavy weather was lifted, the Paladins only fared slightly better on Sunday against Penn State.
Junior Sawyer Duncan claimed a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory at the number one singles spot over Ryan Gormley while senior Jordan Walters and junior Andrei Chvetsov nabbed a 9-7 win at the number three doubles spot against Taylor Cohen and Guillaume St-Maurice.
Freshman Andrew Mellow and junior Sawyer Duncan posted a close 9-8 loss at number two doubles to Ryan Gormley and Warren Hardie.
At number four singles, Carl Lundberg lost in another close match to St. Maurice, 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (10-6). The Paladins 6-1 loss took them to a 0-2 record as they head to Tallahassee, Fla., to play Florida State Friday Feb 5.
While the first two matches did not go the Paladins' way, the team understands that it may face adversity.
Before the season started, senior Chris Rhyne had confidence in his team.
"We lost a lot of great players, which has been hard but with hard work and lots of heart we should be ready for what this season will throw at us," Rhyne said.
Though the start to the season has not been ideal, the Paladins still have the heart and drive to carry them through.