The men's tennis team has been out-hitting its opponents at all positions, beating Bates 9-0 on Thursday night, dismissing Colby with a 9-0 shut-out last Friday, and winning again, 8-1, the following day against Tufts. The win improves the Bears NESCAC record to 5-0, with a 9-2 overall record.
Stephen Sullivan lead the way against Bates, winning at the No. 1 singles position, but the whole team had strong performanecs. The win marks the first time the Polar Bears swept the Bobcats 9-0.
"Pretty much everyone stepped up in general," Matt Knise '10 said. "We're on a seven-match streak now, so it's awesome going into Middlebury this weekend."
"Our doubles play has improved significantly since Spring Break," added sophomore Michael Power. "The past few games really show how much we've come together as a team."
Coach Colin Joyner had put together new doubles combos, and was eager to see how they worked. Two new doubles combos, Stephen Sullivan '11 with Alex Caughron '09 and first year Oscar Pena with junior Jamie Neely, dominated this weekend at the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles position. Tyler Anderson '10 and Alex White '09 worked well together to produce wins at the No. 3 doubles against both Colby (3-4, 1-3 NESCAC) and Tufts (7-4, 2-3 NESCAC).
The singles lineup was almost flawless over the weekend, with Anderson, White, and Caughron cruising through their matches and losing only one game in each of their straight-set victories against Colby.
First year Josh Cranin won his match at the No. 4 singles positions against both opponents, though White dropped his third set in tough conditions to give Tufts its lone win. Sullivan, Pena, and Anderson all had strong straight-set wins against Tufts and Colby at the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 singles positions, respectively.
The games last weekend gave the team a chance to show their ability to adapt to different surfaces, weather conditions, and to re-adjust to what Joyner called some "funky game styles."
The match against Colby was played on quicker indoor courts, and at Tufts, the Polar Bears had to transition from indoor courts to outdoor courts mid-match to deal with some weather conditions.
This weekend, a big crowd of parents, alums, and fans will be making their way up to Bowdoin for the 5th Annual Bowdoin Tennis Reunion Weekend as well as the biggest home game of the season against rival Middlebury, on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Middlebury is currently ranked fourth in Division III; Bowdoin is ranked at No. 11.
Last year, Bowdoin downed Middlebury to win the NESCAC title, preventing them from winning their sixth straight title.
"There's no doubt they're going to want revenge," Sullivan said. "It should be a good match."
Joyner notes that although the team has built up confidence and momentum over the past week, playing against a more evenly matched opponent will make the match more competitive.
"I think it will be a close match again. Middlebury was surprised we took two of the doubles matches last year. This year I am confident that we can win at every doubles position if we execute well," he said.
The main plan, said Joyner, is to maintain momentum and play at a high level. "We beat them last year by playing better so that is our plan to beat them again."
Power has no doubts about the team's potential.
"Right now we're feeling that we have the talent and depth to beat any team in the country," he said.