The men’s tennis team dominated on Saturday, handily defeating Bryant University and Villanova University in a morning-afternoon doubleheader. Both competitions ended 7-0, marking the second time in the past three seasons the Big Green has swept its opening weekend.
The team dropped only one set over the weekend. The doubles teams did not even need to complete play against Bryant because the result of the match was already determined. In the unfinished match, Brandon DeBot ’14 and Dovydas Sakinis ’16 led 5-4.
The No. 1 doubles team, Cameron Ghorbani ’14 and Brendan Tannenbaum ’16, was victorious in both matches they played, dropping just three games. Sakinis and DeBot also defeated the Wildcats’ second team 6-0. The third tandems changed for the Big Green, with Sam Todd ’15 and Erik Nordahl ’16 defeating the Bulldogs’ duo 6-3 and Diego Pedraza ’17 and Chris Kipouras ’15 dispatching the Wildcats’ team 6-0.
The Big Green was just as dominant in singles. The team won all six matches against Bryant. Dartmouth lost just one set against Villanova and cruised through their other matches in straight sets.
There were a few straight set victories for the Big Green. Sakinis took his dominant form into singles, where he defeated a Villanova senior Thomas O’Brien in two quick sets, only losing three games. Two freshmen got in on the action, recording easy victories against both opponents. George Wall ’17 and Pedraza both won in straight sets. Wall defeated Bryant freshman Max Vogt 6-4, 6-2 while Pedraza won matches against both the Bulldogs and Wildcats, dropping four games in each match.
“It was really great to finally get out there and compete,” Wall said. “Obviously I’m happy about the result, but it’s great to be back playing some competitive tennis.”
The spectators basked in the Big Green’s success. Multiple members of the team mentioned how big of a role the fans played in firing up the athletes.
“The support today from teammates and the rowdy crowd really assisted our performance,” Justin Chan ’16 said.
The Big Green won eight out of nine matches against Villanova in straight sets. Todd dropped the first set of his match against Villanova before rallying back to win the next two sets 6-3.
“It definitely pumped everyone up,” Wall said.
It was a convincing and quick victory for the young team, which only has two seniors this year. Four freshmen play significant roles on the team.
“We’re thrilled to start the season 2-0,” Kipouras said. “We’re looking to build on this great start.”
Both victories will boost the team’s confidence going into next weekend, when the Big Green will to hit the road. The team is traveling to Stillwater, Okla., to visit Oklahoma State University, where the Big Green will square off against the Cowboys and the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The next matches at home will be the weekend of Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 against East Tennessee State University and Radford University.
