 "Photo: photo by Mark Becker")
However, thanks to early inactivity due to weather as well as many other factors that have slowed down the Rams, they have fallen to 1-7 in the spring season, losing their last five matches.
After a match against Sacred Heart was cancelled for the third time due to rain, Fordham headed out to Monroeville, Pa. to take part in the Atlantic 10 Championship.
The Rams entered the tournament as the 12th seed and took on Charlotte, the fifth seed, who came into the match at 9-11 on the season, in the first round on Friday, April 24th.
The Rams’ opening match did not go their way as Charlotte cruised to a 4-0 win.
Charlotte won two of three doubles matches to secure the first point. Sophomore Chris Huynh and senior Brad Clinard were able to take down sophomore Brandon Abbatiello and freshman Andriy Kulak 8-1.
Then sophomore Michael Anders and junior Mizra Beciragic followed that up with an 8-0 win over sophomore Ken Fukumoto and freshman Eli Plangger.
The singles matches did not go any better for Fordham.
Freshman Anthony Davidson was able to defeat sophomore Kevin Maloney 6-2, 6-0 to extend the lead to 2-0 for Charlotte.
Freshman Charles Martin-Lecamp continued the trend for Charlotte with a 6-3, 6-0 win over senior Sotiris Georgiou.
Finally, senior Ricky Cuellar finished off the shutout with a 6-2, 6-2 win against senior Pat Tool to complete the 4-0 win.
“Charlotte is one of the better teams in the league,” Head Coach Bob Hawthorne said.
Charlotte lost to St. Bonaventure the following round, but rebounded against Saint Joseph’s and Temple to claim fifth place.
In the consolation bracket, Fordham took on Dayton, who came into the tournament as the No. 9 seed with a 7-15 record in the regular season.
This turned out to be the end of Fordham’s season as the Flyers were able to roll to a 4-0 win on Saturday, April 25th.
The doubles matches were opened up by junior Matt Sherman and sophomore Michael Koscielski taking down Abbatiello and Kulak 8-3.
Sophomore Bryce Warnock and freshman Philip Dresden secured the doubles point with an 8-1 win over Fukumoto and Plangger.
Dayton finished off the win with three singles wins, the first from Sherman, who defeated Abbatiello 6-2, 6-2. Warnock was then able to beat Maloney 6-0, 6-1.
To finish up the 4-0 win senior David Peyton beat Georgiou 6-1, 6-2.
The win propelled Dayton to ninth place in the tournament and left Fordham tied with La Salle for 11th.
Second-seeded Xavier won the tournament after defeating the fourth seed, St. Bonaventure, in the finals.
Fordham closes out the year with a 5-12 record, and a 1-9 record in the spring.
“We tried all combinations in doubles,” Hawthorne said, indicating that the difficult season was not due to a lack of experimentation.
“I thought we’d do better,” Hawthorne said. “Next year will be better.”
The Rams will lose Georgiou, Tool and senior Peter Slucky to graduation; however, they hope to replenish the talent.
Incoming freshman Alex Direnzo headlines a recruiting class that Hawthorne is very excited about.
“Alex Direnzo is one of the better players in the city,” he said.
On a more upbeat note, the Fordham men’s tennis team was honored by the NCAA for high academic achievement.
The praise was given based on Fordham’s multi-year academic progress rate, which ranked in the top 10 percent of all tennis squads.
“They’re a very bright bunch,” Hawthorne said. “There are no academic difficulties on this team.”
The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.
Following a 4-3 fall season, Fordham men’s tennis had to expect a much better spring.
However, thanks to early inactivity due to weather as well as many other factors that have slowed down the Rams, they have fallen to 1-7 in the spring season, losing their last five matches.
After a match against Sacred Heart was cancelled for the third time due to rain, Fordham headed out to Monroeville, Pa. to take part in the Atlantic 10 Championship.
The Rams entered the tournament as the 12th seed and took on Charlotte, the fifth seed, who came into the match at 9-11 on the season, in the first round on Friday, April 24th.
The Rams’ opening match did not go their way as Charlotte cruised to a 4-0 win.
Charlotte won two of three doubles matches to secure the first point. Sophomore Chris Huynh and senior Brad Clinard were able to take down sophomore Brandon Abbatiello and freshman Andriy Kulak 8-1.
Then sophomore Michael Anders and junior Mizra Beciragic followed that up with an 8-0 win over sophomore Ken Fukumoto and freshman Eli Plangger.
The singles matches did not go any better for Fordham.
Freshman Anthony Davidson was able to defeat sophomore Kevin Maloney 6-2, 6-0 to extend the lead to 2-0 for Charlotte.
Freshman Charles Martin-Lecamp continued the trend for Charlotte with a 6-3, 6-0 win over senior Sotiris Georgiou.
Finally, senior Ricky Cuellar finished off the shutout with a 6-2, 6-2 win against senior Pat Tool to complete the 4-0 win.
“Charlotte is one of the better teams in the league,” Head Coach Bob Hawthorne said.
Charlotte lost to St. Bonaventure the following round, but rebounded against Saint Joseph’s and Temple to claim fifth place.
In the consolation bracket, Fordham took on Dayton, who came into the tournament as the No. 9 seed with a 7-15 record in the regular season.
This turned out to be the end of Fordham’s season as the Flyers were able to roll to a 4-0 win on Saturday, April 25th.
The doubles matches were opened up by junior Matt Sherman and sophomore Michael Koscielski taking down Abbatiello and Kulak 8-3.
Sophomore Bryce Warnock and freshman Philip Dresden secured the doubles point with an 8-1 win over Fukumoto and Plangger.
Dayton finished off the win with three singles wins, the first from Sherman, who defeated Abbatiello 6-2, 6-2. Warnock was then able to beat Maloney 6-0, 6-1.
To finish up the 4-0 win senior David Peyton beat Georgiou 6-1, 6-2.
The win propelled Dayton to ninth place in the tournament and left Fordham tied with La Salle for 11th.
Second-seeded Xavier won the tournament after defeating the fourth seed, St. Bonaventure, in the finals.
Fordham closes out the year with a 5-12 record, and a 1-9 record in the spring.
“We tried all combinations in doubles,” Hawthorne said, indicating that the difficult season was not due to a lack of experimentation.
“I thought we’d do better,” Hawthorne said. “Next year will be better.”
The Rams will lose Georgiou, Tool and senior Peter Slucky to graduation; however, they hope to replenish the talent.
Incoming freshman Alex Direnzo headlines a recruiting class that Hawthorne is very excited about.
“Alex Direnzo is one of the better players in the city,” he said.
On a more upbeat note, the Fordham men’s tennis team was honored by the NCAA for high academic achievement.
The praise was given based on Fordham’s multi-year academic progress rate, which ranked in the top 10 percent of all tennis squads.
“They’re a very bright bunch,” Hawthorne said. “There are no academic difficulties on this team.”
The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.
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