TENNIS: Judges fall short in quarterfinals at UAAs
by Mike Prada
Editor in Chief
Sports | 5/1/07
Posted online at 10:13 PM EST on 4/30/07
/ Last updated at 12:35 PM EST on 4/30/07
The score was tied at four coming into No. 6 singles After losing the first set to junior Bharath Sithian, Scott Schulman '09 rebounded to win the second set, but dropped the third in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 loss.
"In the third set, [Sithian] started returning better and playing better defense," Schulman said.
The Judges nearly experienced a similar ending in their fifth-place match against New York University. They won two of the three doubles matches but fell behind in singles once again, trailing 4-3 after losses by Vulfovich, Sher and Bieber.
This time, however, the team's remaining singles players came through. After winning the first set 6-2, Jonas fell behind in the second set against junior Mikhail Gurevich but came back to win in a tiebreaker. Silverman finished his career with a game-winning victory, defeating rookie P.J. Marranca 6-3, 7-5.
"For [Jonas and Silverman] to walk off the court as winners in their final match, it was a good accomplishment," Lamanna said.
This was the last tournament for the team's five seniors, Jonas, Vulfovich, Sher, Bieber and Silverman, although Jonas and Vulfovich may play in Division III championships as a doubles team.
Jonas, the 2005 UAA Player of the Year, finished his singles career on a high note, with a 3-0 record during UAAs. Jonas struggled last fall after shoulder surgery hampered his serve, but after starting the spring season behind Vulfovich in the lineup, he eventually regained his customary spot on top in the Judges' lineup.
"It's sad that [my career] is coming to an end, but it's time to move on," Jonas said. "This has always been a great part of my life."
"[Jonas'] legacy should never be taken for granted," Lamanna said. "To win at the number-one spot like he's done is very hard, and he's sacrificed a lot for this program."
The women's team will lose only Jenicka Hornung '07 from its lineup, and will return their top four singles players. Top starters Colleen Donnelly '08 and Ana Katz '08 return for their senior seasons, and Gabrielle Helfgott '09, whose improvement in singles and doubles gave the Judges consistency in the middle of the lineup this spring, will also be back.
"In the third set, [Sithian] started returning better and playing better defense," Schulman said.
The Judges nearly experienced a similar ending in their fifth-place match against New York University. They won two of the three doubles matches but fell behind in singles once again, trailing 4-3 after losses by Vulfovich, Sher and Bieber.
This time, however, the team's remaining singles players came through. After winning the first set 6-2, Jonas fell behind in the second set against junior Mikhail Gurevich but came back to win in a tiebreaker. Silverman finished his career with a game-winning victory, defeating rookie P.J. Marranca 6-3, 7-5.
"For [Jonas and Silverman] to walk off the court as winners in their final match, it was a good accomplishment," Lamanna said.
This was the last tournament for the team's five seniors, Jonas, Vulfovich, Sher, Bieber and Silverman, although Jonas and Vulfovich may play in Division III championships as a doubles team.
Jonas, the 2005 UAA Player of the Year, finished his singles career on a high note, with a 3-0 record during UAAs. Jonas struggled last fall after shoulder surgery hampered his serve, but after starting the spring season behind Vulfovich in the lineup, he eventually regained his customary spot on top in the Judges' lineup.
"It's sad that [my career] is coming to an end, but it's time to move on," Jonas said. "This has always been a great part of my life."
"[Jonas'] legacy should never be taken for granted," Lamanna said. "To win at the number-one spot like he's done is very hard, and he's sacrificed a lot for this program."
The women's team will lose only Jenicka Hornung '07 from its lineup, and will return their top four singles players. Top starters Colleen Donnelly '08 and Ana Katz '08 return for their senior seasons, and Gabrielle Helfgott '09, whose improvement in singles and doubles gave the Judges consistency in the middle of the lineup this spring, will also be back.
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