POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 26, 2009) – With the six singles matches being split, it was timely doubles play that carried the Vassar men’s tennis team to a 6-3 victory over Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon at the Joss Tennis Courts.
In a tightly contested match, a key turning point came at second doubles where the No. 2 team of junior
Max Willner and freshman
Josh Kessler fought off match point in a tiebreaker to defeat Stevens' Shota Tasaki and Jason Ringstad 9-8(6) to clinch Vassar’s doubles sweep.
Vassar’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Mike Mattelson and freshman
Andrew Guzick and its No. 3 contingent of juniors
Greg Katz and
Joshua Jasso all won comfortably to set the stage for the climax at second doubles.
Down 8-7, the Stevens team of Tasaki and Ringstad overcame two match points to hold and send the match into a tiebreaker. Down a mini-break with Stevens serving at 5-4, Willner unleashed a vicious crosscourt backhand winner that prevented a Stevens match point. The Brewers fought off match point at 6-5 and finally their uncanny defense and devastating lobs pulled them through 8-6 in the tiebreak.
“Double’s looked sharp so that’ll be good to see in the ITAs,” said head coach Ki Kroll. “(Andrew) Guzick really stood out in singles. He handled a very nice player today.”
Guzick employed a nifty all-court game to smother the net and defeat Stevens' Arik Zeevey 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 2 singles spot. Senior
Jeremy Arthur showed his signature tenacity and patterned attack to finalize Vassar’s victory with his 6-4, 6-0 win over Jason Rinstad.
“I was proud of the guys. Stevens Technology is a tough team and we took care of business,” said Kroll.
With the completion of fall’s dual matches, Vassar Men’s Tennis sports a 2-0 record as it prepares for the ITA Individual Tournament next weekend. The Brewers expect to send three doubles and five singles players to the ITA event.
Vassar 6, Stevens 3
Doubles
1. Mike Mattelson/Andrew Kuzcik (VC) def. Arik Zeevy/Chris Rosensteel (S), 8-4
2. Max Willner/Josh Kessler (VC) def. Shota Tasaki/Jayson Ringstad (S), 9-8(6)
3. Greg Katz/Joshua Jasso (VC) def. Stan Yakoff/Jay Lee (S), 8-5
Singles
1. Mattelson (VC) def. Taski (S), 7-5, 6-3
2. Guzcik (VC) def. Zeevy (S), 6-2, 6-2
3. Rosensteel (S) def. Willner (VC), 1-6, 7-5, 10-7
4. Yakoff (S) def. Katz (VC), 6-3, 7-5
5. Jeremy Arthur (VC) def. Ringstad (S), 6-4, 6-0
6. Lee (S) def. Joshua Jasso (VC), 6-4, 6-3