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The Dartmouth
July 23, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Tennis rebounds after losses to sweep Army 9-0

Dan Freeman '10 won his single matches in the number-one spot against both Army and Binghamton this weekend.
Dan Freeman '10 won his single matches in the number-one spot against both Army and Binghamton this weekend.

Dartmouth lost 4-3 to both UNCG and Binghamton, but resurrected its weekend with a 7-0 win against Army on Sunday afternoon. All of the matches were played at home at the Alexis Boss Tennis Center.

The men started off strong against Army, earning the doubles point by winning two out of three of the matches. Both the number-two team of Dan Freeman '10 and Stephen Greif '11 and the number-three pair of Justin Tzou '10 and Andrew Malizia '12 were victorious 8-6 against the Black Knights.

In the number-one singles spot, Freeman crushed Army's Phil Muhawi in two sets, 6-1, 6-0. Other singles players also had especially strong showings, as Curtis Roby '11 won 6-1, 6-3, and Tzou clenched a 6-3, 6-2 victory. Greif, Michael Laser '12 and Malizia also won their match-ups.

Earlier in the weekend, though, doubles seemed to be the team's greatest weakness, as the men lost in that category both Friday and Saturday.

Roby and captain Ari Gayer '09 pulled off an 8-6 victory against the Spartans on Friday but failed to deliver the next evening, dropping their match 8-5 to Binghamton.

Conversely, the team of Freeman and Chris Ho '12 won its doubles match against Binghamton, 8-5, but was unsuccessful Friday night against UNCG in an 8-6 loss.

Head coach Chuck Kinyon said that yesterday's success may be attributed in part to changes in the doubles lineup.

"It was refreshing to win doubles today after we lost the last two matches," he said. "Justin Tzou and Andrew Malizia were a really good combination, and both of our new pairs won."

Tzou did not play in the first two matches this weekend. Kinyon said that it was great to have him back on Sunday, as he is one of the team's best players.

Against Binghamton, the Big Green earned points in the top two singles slots, thanks to strong play by Freeman and Roby. Freeman soundly defeated freshman opponent Moshe Levy in two sets, 6-3, 6-2. Roby won, 7-6, 7-5, with solid play throughout both sets.

Dartmouth and UNCG split the singles wins on Friday night, with the Big Green pulling through in the two, four and six spots but not snagging any of the odd-numbered match-ups.

Roby fought during three tough sets for a key singles victory, defeating senior Andrey Bubnov 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.

Gayer said that, although it was tough losing against UNCG and Binghamton, the team still put forth its best effort for Sunday's match.

"We really wanted to end up with a win," he said. "We had high energy today, and everyone is in great shape this year."

Kinyon said that Roby played a crucial role on the team in the number-two singles spot, with Roby winning all three of his singles matches this weekend.

"He faced some great players and brought his game to a whole new level," Kinyon said.

Although this weekend's three big matches kept the team very busy, Kinyon said that such a full schedule is good for the team, and that the team has already improved significantly over the past three days.

"There are young guys lower in the lineup who struggled a little, but they improved with each day we played," he said.

Gayer said that the freshmen are adjusting well, noting that the two who played singles yesterday both won their matches.

"It's always nerve-racking, but they handle the pressure well," he said.

The Big Green will return to the courts again next weekend to play with other top conference teams in the ECAC Championships in Cambridge, Mass. This tournament brings together the top ten teams in the league, including all eight Ivy League institutions.

Dartmouth will need to win in the first round in order to advance further in the tournament, Gayer said, and the team expects to perform well.

The first tournament match for the Big Green will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday against St. John's University.

Following the tournament, the Big Green will face Marist College and Boston College in Hanover.