ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.—For the third consecutive year, the Barry men’s tennis team will play in the NCAA DII National Championship match after blanking #11 Concordia 5-0 in the semifinals.
The Buccaneers’ determination was evident from the start of the match to the very end.
“After our come-from-behind win at number two doubles, it set the tone for the singles,” head coach Dr. George Samuel said. “That really put everybody feeling a lot more secure and confident in beating that team. If you can all the doubles matches, you know your match time is going to be shortened. It gave us a great amount of recovery time. That is exactly what we need to prepare properly for the championship.”
As usual, Andrew Sharnov and Sergio Velez finished doubles play first with an 8-4 win over Concordia’s pair of Tama Dobrotka and Andreas Lindell. For the third straight day, Sharnov/Velez took the first Buccaneer point of the day; this time in commanding fashion.
After trailing the entire match, Ales Svigelj and Max Wimmer broke the #2 doubles team in the country of Alex Grubin and Andrey Boldarev to take a 7-6 lead in the match. Svigelj/Wimmer took the next set on Wimmer’s service and gave Barry a 2-0 lead in the match.
“We made an early break in our doubles then gave it right back to Concordia,” sophomore Wimmer said. “It was a big win. For me it was the second time this season that I beat this pair. Ales and I played really well today and hopefully we will play like that tomorrow.”
The number two doubles duo of Emanuel Fraitzl and Marco Mokrzycki found themselves in a 5-2 hole against the Clippers’ Raphael Namias and Felix Missal. The Buccaneer pair rallied back, taking two breaks and winning the match 8-6. Going into singles, Barry held a confident 3-0 lead.
“Our opponents were on top of their game at the start of the match and we didn’t have an answer, junior Fraitzl said. “We continued to hang in the match and it eventually it paid off and we won. We felt it was very important to take all the doubles match so we could save a lot of energy. We went into singles only needing tow wins and that’s huge.”
The confidence continued throughout singles play as well. Every Buccaneer took their first singles set and provided many options for the two singles wins Barry needed to capture the match.
#32 Fraitzl made quick work of Missal. At the third singles flight, Fraitzl went 6-2, 6-3 and gave the Bucs a 4-0 lead. At that point, Fraitzl tied the team-high in singles wins on the season with 16.
“I didn’t feel good yesterday,” Fraitzl said. “I lost my match to Array form Armstrong but today I felt very good. If I keep playing like that I feel like I have a very good shot to win tomorrow.”
Only moments later, #42 Wimmer gabbed singles win number 17 on the year and captured the match. Wimmer defeated Concordia’s Namias 6-2, 6-3 to end play.
“I think I’m playing my best tennis for this year,” Wimmer said. Right now I’m on top of my game and playing very close to my best tennis. I feel really comfortable right now, and I am excited about tomorrow.”
The win moves Barry to the NCAA Championship match tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The Buccaneers face the #1 Valdosta St. Blazers at 1:00 p.m. On Feb. 15, Barry defeated Valdosta St. in Miami Shores, Fla. 5-4. The loss for the Blazers is their only blemish on the year.
The will be streamed live through the NCAA web page and live stat coverage will additionally be available. Also, Barry will provided a live blog throughout the match.
Tennis Match Result
Concordia (N.Y.) vs Barry
05/14/10 at Altamonte Springs, Fla.
(Sanlando Park)
#4 Barry 5, #11 Concordia (N.Y.) 0
Singles competition
1. #16 Marco Mokrzycki (BUM) vs. #4 Alex Grubin (CNYMT910) 7-6 (5-7), 2-2, unfinished
2. #36 Ales Svigelj (BUM) vs. #27 Andrey Boldarev (CNYMT910) 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
3. #32 Emanuel Fraitzl (BUM) def. Felix Missal (CNYMT910) 6-2, 6-3
4. #42 Max Wimmer (BUM) def. Raphael Namias (CNYMT910) 6-2, 6-3
5. Andrew Sharnov (BUM) vs. Tamas Dobrotka (CNYMT910) 6-2, 2-6, 2-1, unfinished
6. Sergio Velez (BUM) vs. Andreas Lindell (CNYMT910) 6-3, 4-6, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #10 Ales Svigelj/Max Wimmer (BUM) def. #2 Alex Grubin/Andrey Boldarev (CNYMT910) 8-6
2. Emanuel Fraitzl/Marco Mokrzycki (BUM) def. Raphael Namias/Felix Missal (CNYMT910) 8-6
3. Andrew Sharnov/Sergio Velez (BUM) def. Tamas Dobrotka/Andreas Lindell (CNYMT910) 8-4
Match Notes:
Concordia (N.Y.) 26-4; National ranking #11
Barry 24-4; National ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,4)
2010 NCAA Division II Men's Championship
Semifinals
Match 14