Florida Atlatnic’s men’s team won 5-2 today in the 2009 season opener at Patch Reef Tennis Park. Over 50 fans enjoyed a splendid 78 degree day and witnessed a promising beginning to a challenging season. The defending Atlantic 10 champions, Xavier University, started strong by winning the doubles point. Xavier won at no. 2 doubles 8-3 and FAU followed with a win at no. 1 doubles 8-3. All eyes turned to the court for no. 3 doubles for the deciding match and doubles point. Fans watched and cheered the Owls doubles team of Lawrence Harradine and Santiago Nieto as they broke back in the pro-set to even the score at 6-6. FAU took the lead at 7-6 then Xavier held to even the score at 7-7. FAU held to take the lead at 8-7 and forced XU to hold to stay in the match. The Owls had an opportunity at 15-30 to intensify the pressure on the Musketeers with an exciting all court exchange involving all four players. Xavier won the point and went on to force the deciding tie break. The teams split the first four points but, after an FAU double fault Xavier seized the momentum and never surrendered to clinch the match and the important doubles point.
“We did not play to our best ability in doubles today due to Xavier’s superior execution of fundamentals and our inability to properly deal with nerves in the first spring match of the year. We will improve in both these areas by next weekend.”
Singles play began at 3:30 p.m. under the blue, cloudless south Florida sky. The Owls demonstrated their mental resiliency by jumping out to first set victories on 4 of the 6 singles courts. And the two courts that dropped the first set came back to win the matches. Daniel Vardag was the first victory to put the Owls on the board for 2009. He won 7-6 (6), 6-2 at number 2 singles. Lawrence Harradine secured the team momentum with a straight-set win at no. 3 singles 6-4, 7-5. Marc Abdelnour stretched the team lead to 3-1 with a straight-set win at no. 1 singles 6-4, 6-4. The remaining three courts were all in the 3rd set. The sun was setting, the lights were buzzing as they started to illuminate Patch Reef Park’s courts. The vocal supporters for both universities were becoming more and more anxious with every contested point. Freshman Santiago Nieto clinched his first collegiate victory and the Owls first victory of 2009 with an emphatic overhead winner to win 6-2 in the third set at no. 6 singles. Joshua Scholl was the final victorious Owl with a convincing three set win at no. 4 singles 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.
“The team demonstrated considerable spirit and relentless determination in singles today. Xavier is a tough defending champion with the talent to improve on last year’s success. Our boys competed and figured out ways to fight and execute even when not playing their best. Their team bond is strong and it’s just the first match of the season. It’s going to be fun to watch them improve and grow—because we do have many areas to improve before our next test with Florida A & M and the FSU Seminoles, ranked no. 11 nationally.”
“Thank you to all the fans that came out and shared a memorable season opener with our team.”
Coach Brandon Stokes
BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University's men's tennis team opened the 2009 season with a 5-2 victory over Xavier University, the defending Atlantic 10 Champions, Friday afternoon.
Xavier captured the doubles point sending the match into singles play where the two teams split the first four points. The Owls needing to win at least four matches. FAU swept all but one singles match to earn the victory.
Daniel Vardag was the first Owl to score with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory at no. 2 singles. Lawrence Harradine held the momentum with a 6-4, 7-5 victory at no. 3 singles. Playing no. 1 singles, Marc Abdelnour stretched the team lead to 3-1 with a 6-4, 6-4 win. The final three matches were all in their third sets. Santiago Nieto clinched his first collegiate victory and the Owls first dual match victory of the 2009 season. Joshua Scholl scored the final point at no. 4 singles with a 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.
"The team demonstrated considerable spirit and relentless determination in singles today. Xavier is a tough defending champion with the talent to improve on last year's success," said Brandon Stokes, FAU's first-year head coach. "We competed and figured out ways to fight and execute even when not playing our best."
Doubles
Marc Abdelnour / Daniel Vardag (FAU)def. Chris Herrlinger / Doug Matthews (XU) 8-3
Ra'ees Ismail / J.T. Torbek (XU) def. Eddie Majcher / Joshua Scholl (FAU) 8-3
Bobby Deye / Brian Starr (XU) def. Lawrence Harradine / Santiago Nieto 9-8(4)
Singles
Marc Abdelnour (FAU) def. Doug Matthews (XU) 6-4, 6-4
Daniel Vardag (FAU) def. Chris Herrlinger (XU) 7-6(6), 6-2
Lawrence Harradine (FAU) def. Ra'ees Ismail (XU) 6-4, 7-5
Joshua Scholl (FAU) def. Bobby Deye (XU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
Richard Canelas (XU) def. Eddie Majcher 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Santiago Nieto (FAU) def. Mike Dieciuc (XU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
