By Chris Spiker
Staff Writer
The men’s tennis team (4-7) defeated Siena Sunday, 6-1, while the women (2-12) lost to Siena, 6-1. The men travel to New Haven, Conn., this weekend, challenging Binghamton Saturday and Yale Sunday.
Binghamton (5-7) plays the Bonnies in a neutral-site match after falling to St. John’s, 4-3, Sunday. Freshman Sid Hazarika leads the Bearcats with a 10-2 singles record and sophomore Ismael Dinia leads with a 4-6 doubles record.
Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA)No. 51 Yale (11-3) hosts the Bonnies after defeating ITA No. 60 Old Dominion, 4-3, Sunday in Wilmington, N.C. Senior Marc Powers leads the Bulldogs in singles at 10-2, and the No. 59 doubles pairing of Powers and senior Daniel Hoffman leads at 5-4.
In the midst of an inconsistent season, head Coach Michael Bates said he hopes the men display their best abilities this weekend.
“We tend to play to the level of our opponent,” Bates said. “Hopefully we’ll step up because they’re better teams.”
Junior Javier Ortiz said the men train hard, but need to execute better before the Atlantic 10 championships begin April 25.
“Our results aren’t that good right now, but I think everyone is trying harder every day,” Ortiz said. “We said to each other that we have to push more to improve this last month.”
Four Bonnies earned a singles and doubles victory against Siena. Despite the win, Bates said he knows the men need to improve in singles and doubles.
“We’re overall a little more talented of a team than they were,” Bates said. “We’ve got some work to do for this weekend.”
Senior Oscar Yanez earned a first singles victory, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), and a first doubles victory with senior Luis Guevara, 8-3. Guevara won in third singles, 6-1, 6-3. Bates said Yanez’s improvement this season comes from his increased confidence.
“Playing No. 1 last year really helped him,” Bates said. “He gained a lot of experience and realized how he needs to step up.”
Ortiz improved his team-leading 10-9 singles record, winning in fourth singles, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2. Ortiz said his increased focus this year improved his match and practice performance.
“Because of the work I’ve been doing, I’ve been pushing a little harder in practices,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz and junior Elliot Fanshel teamed up for an 8-6 second doubles win. Fanshel won in second singles, 6-0, 6-3.
Sophomore Trevor Haskell added a sixth singles victory, 5-7, 6-4, 10-4 and joined freshman Gabriel Cardenas in third doubles, winning 8-3.
Sophomore Fatya Amiri led the women Sunday, winning a singles and doubles match. Amiri won in first singles, 6-0, 6-1, and teamed up with sophomore Marissa Brossard for an 8-3 first doubles victory. Bates said Amiri adapted to playing in the No. 1 spot this season.
“She’s been pretty steady the whole year,” Bates said. “She took care of business quickly Sunday.”
Brossard defaulted in second singles after a sprained ankle from her doubles match forced her to retire in singles, Bates said. He said Brossard’s injury compounded the other Bona’s injuries.
“We’re down 3-0 before the match even starts,” Bates said. “We just need more depth in our lineup.”
The women rest for a weekend before traveling to Philadelphia for matches against La Salle and St. Joseph’s March 29 and 30. Bates said light practices and recovery will help the women before the season’s final stretch.
“We need to heal, recover a bit and then pick it back up again,” Bates said.
