Men's Tennis Squares Off with NCAA #3 CMS

Despite losing 8-1, the underestimated Poets squad gave nationally ranked #3 and NCAA Championship contenders, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps all they could handle.

Lance Franey '09 and Ted Wyatt ‘11 missed an opportunity to serve out their #2 doubles match, before dropping the set 8-6.  The #1 doubles team of Justin DeLong ‘10 and Sean Robertson ‘10 and #3 doubles Ryan Johnson ‘11 and Denis Minaev ‘11 also put forward solid efforts, losing 8-5 and 8-3 respectively.

Highlights for the squad though came at #4 and #5 singles. Wyatt, using a monster serve and heavy forehand, played the best HALF a match of his young college career. Wyatt was up 6-4 and 1-0 before retiring due to a knee/muscle strain. The Poet staff is hopeful there is no major tear or ligament damage.

Russian freshman Minaev pulled off a three-set thriller taking out the Stags' Russe Chidester 6-4, 5-7, (10-2). Minaev improves his singles record to 4-1, the only loss coming from another epic three-setter against Pomona-Pitzer.

"This is clearly the best tennis we have played all year", said Head Coach, David Bojalad. "That being said, it is much easier to play well when you are loose and have nothing to lose."

The Poets hope this type of performance will help turn their season around.

"Although we played at a higher level with greater intensity, the bottom line is that we are 1-5," Bojalad continued.  "We need to bring this and more if we hope to score more wins on our upcoming schedule against teams close to us, and certainly the teams we should beat."

The Poets look to get on the winning track when they travel to Riverside, Calif., to take on La Sierra University.  The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm.