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Men’s Tennis Ready To Defend Empire 8 Title
Coming off a record-breaking season in which the squad posted a program-high 18 wins en route to a second Empire 8 title and third NCAA Tournament appearance, the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s tennis team, under the tutelage of 2009-10 conference Coach of the Year, Steve Gachko, enters the 2011 spring campaign determined to defend its league title, while building on last year’s success.
“As always it’s our goal to win the conference and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. We want to take it one match at a time and hopefully build upon last season’s success,” said Gachko. “Our fall season went really well, as have our practices this spring. All of our returnees are back stronger, fitter, and hungrier for an even better year. They’re ready and excited to take on arguably the toughest schedule in school history.”
With the bulk of last year’s starters returning from a team that earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament first-round bye and achieved the Ducks’ highest-ever ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) Northeast Region (10th), Stevens stands poised to make another run at its second-straight conference crown. Returning to help lead the Ducks this season are a trio of senior co-captains in Arik Zeevy (Irvington, N.Y.), Jason Ringstad (Fairbanks, Alaska), and Carlo Pardo (Cedar Knolls, N.J.).
“Seniors Jason Ringstad, Arik Zeevy and Carlo Pardo will serve as our team captains this season,” Gachko said. “They all have different leadership styles – whether they lead more by example or more vocally and authoritatively – but they work well together and having already developed so much in their four years here, they’re excited to take on the challenge of helping to motivate and lead our team.”
Zeevy, who ranked third all-time in career singles (54) wins and fourth in doubles (47) victories entering the fall season, enjoyed a stellar 2010-11 campaign, notching the second most singles victories in any one season with 23, while tying the program record for single-season doubles wins with 20. The then-junior, who received both All-Empire 8 first-team singles and doubles accolades last year, posted a 7-1 singles mark against conference opponents, earning a 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 come-from-behind, championship clinching victory in third-flight singles, in the Ducks’ 5-2 triumph over Ithaca College in the conference final.
“Arik has been a tremendous leader. He’s very mature and is an extremely hard worker. He’s very focused coming into this year and is an enormous part of our team,” explained Gachko. “He’s continued to improve over the years and I think has gotten to the point where he really knows how to use his weapons better and play to his strengths.”
Ringstad enjoyed arguably his best season in Cardinal and Gray a year ago, posting an 18-5 singles mark and a 19-10 doubles record en route to second-team singles honors and honorable mention doubles accolades. Ringstad, a native of Fairbanks, Alaska, proved to be one of the squad’s fiercest competitors last season, climbing to third in all-time double victories (50) and sixth in singles (47) win.
“Jason is a competitor. No matter what his condition is, you can count on the fact that he’s going to always give 100 percent. He’s an extremely tough out and just battles on the court,” Gachko explained. “Last season, against Skidmore, he was cramping up in both legs and could barely function in between points, yet somehow found a way to pull through and get the win we needed. He’s just that kind of player.”
Also hoping to help Stevens duplicate last year’s success are sophomores Chris Rosensteel (East Windsor, N.J.) and Shota Tasaki (Greenwich, Conn.) and senior Jay Lee (La Jolla, Calif.). Rosensteel put together a tremendous rookie campaign last year, setting a program-record in both singles and doubles victories with 27 and 20, respectively, earning Rookie of the Year honors and both first-team singles and doubles all-conference accolades for his efforts. The freshman went 8-0 against league opponents in 2009-10, going 21-0 in dual matches and 9-0 over his last nine.
Tasaki was almost equally impressive in his first full season on the Hudson, going 17-11 as the Ducks’ primary No. 1 singles option. Going 19-10 in doubles action, Tasaki finished with the seventh most single-season wins in school history and the second-most single-season doubles victories.
“Chris expects a lot out of himself and the rest of the team. He really put the time into improving his game (this offseason). He played a bunch of tournaments and did really well. I’m excited to see how he matches up with some top-level competition this season. I have confidence that he’ll do well and continue to improve and grow as the year goes on,” said Gachko. “Shota is a really talented player who has become so much more comfortable this season. He’s showing more confidence in his game and I think that mentality is really going to pay dividends for him this year.”
An experienced senior, Lee, who currently ranks sixth all-time in career doubles wins (37) and tied for eighth in singles victories (44) serves as another viable option in a talented Ducks’ lineup, after posting a 13-2 mark last season in singles play – including a undefeated record over his final 10 – and a 4-2 record in doubles action.
“As a senior, Jay Lee, definitely knows how to win big matches and the experiences he can fall back on should really carry and help him through this season,” said Gachko. “He’s been there before, knows how to win, and can really help us this year.”
Also back in the fold this year are seniors Kristoffer Jude-Cecilio (Belleville, N.J.) and Ryan Wilson (Toms River, N.J.), and junior Gregory Klose (Englewood, N.J.). Klose earned All-Empire 8 honorable mention honors a year ago after posting a 6-3 singles record and a 19-4 doubles mark – tying him for the second most single-season doubles victories in program history.
Rounding out Stevens roster are a trio of newcomers in Tom O’Gara (Montvale, N.J.) and freshmen Cole Liguori (Toms River, N.J.) and Lopburi Sasinin (New Brunswick, N.J.).
“We have two talented freshmen in Lopburi Sasinin and Cole Liguori. Top (Lopburi) should definitely be a key contributor in our lineup this season. He’s a talented player, who did well this fall and we expect big things from him,” Gachko said. “Cole should give us some added depth. He has a great attitude and fits in well with the guys.”
In order to reach their goal, Stevens, currently ranked No. 12 in the ITA’s Northeast Region, must first navigate a grueling schedule that features three nationally ranked preseason teams and nine regionally ranked squads. The Ducks open their spring season at ITA’s Atlantic South preseason No. 15 Haverford College on March 2 before facing No. 24 Massachusetts Institute of Technology – who upended the Ducks in the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament – on March 5.
Stevens will then play four matches in California as part of its annual Spring Break trip against No. 2 Amherst College, and ITA preseason West Region No. 12 Whittier College, No. 11 Occidental College, and No. 7 Pomona College. The Ducks will then return home for a match-up with ITA Northeast Region No. 11 Skidmore College on March 26 before squaring off with Drew University on March 30.
The Ducks open conference play against St. John Fisher College and Alfred University on April 2 before starting a grueling three-match stretch against teams ranked in the ITA’s Northeast Region preseason poll. Stevens faces No. 18 New York University on April 6 before playing host to No. 10 The College of New Jersey and No. 17 University of Rochester on April 9 and 10, respectively.
After a date with No. 29 Vassar College on April 27, the Ducks face Empire 8 rival Elmira College on April 30 before closing out the season with Empire 8 runner-up ITA Northeast Region preseason No. 13 Ithaca College on May 1.
“What’s exciting about our schedule this season is that it’s just going to be one tough match after another. It is our goal to take one match at a time and look to make the right adjustments along the way,” Gachko closed. “It’s going to force us to be at our very best – both mentally and competitively – every single match. It’ll be a good challenge for us and one that we’re ready for.”
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