The past two seasons have ended the same way for the men’s tennis team: a loss to Marist in the semifinals of the MAAC tournament. After two straight third-place finishes, the Stags are looking to move past Marist, all the way to the championship.
They enter the season with two goals: win the MAAC and break the school record of 12 wins in a season. The Stags are already 3-1 and feel they have a great shot at breaking the win record.
“We need to take care of business against the teams we are favored against – Rider, St. Peter’s and Loyola – and somehow learn to win against the big boys-Marist and Manhattan,” said first year Head Coach Ed Paige, who was previously the team’s assistant coach for six years.
Senior co-captain Jonathan Fernando’s resume is nearly perfect: 100 wins, MAAC All-Academic team, and the most wins in school history.
But in his three seasons at Fairfield, the Stags have not finished higher than third and have never defeated rival Marist. This season Fernando hopes that will change.
“I would love for us to beat Marist for the first time in the four years I’ve been here,” said Fernando. “We had an amazing fall and I expect us to continue our great play through the spring.”
“Jon means everything to us,” said Paige, who was the Stags’ assistant coach for the past six seasons. “Every fitness session he leads the team in sprints. He plays unbelievably hard in practice, plays hurt, and every match performs admirably at number one singles, against some very tough opponents.”
“Playing with Jon is great,” said freshman Ryan Berthod. “He is unmatched as a captain. He gets the guys ready for matches and brings everyone’s level up when he is around. He is definitely someone I hope I am like when I am a senior.”
This season Fernando should get more help than in the past, as the team has grown more experienced and returns four of their top six players. Berthod joins the top six, at number two singles and is expected to make an immediate impact.
“Ryan had a stellar fall, but has started somewhat slow in the spring. Once he gets his serves in order, I anticipate big things out of him,” Paige said.
Fernando also believes that Berthod will be an important player.
“Ryan is so talented that sometimes it is scary,” Fernando said. “He has a very bright and successful career of ahead of him, and I have the utmost confidence in him and his all-around game at number two singles.”
Berthod entered the season knowing he would have a major role and prepared for it.
“Coming into Fairfield I knew I’d probably have a major role in the lineup right away, so I prepared myself all summer,” Berthod said.
Along with Berthod, the Stags will look for the continued improvement of Zachary Morrison, Fernando’s senior co-captain, and sophomore Chip Palumbo. Morrison will play three singles and has already picked up a key victory to secure a win over Monmouth.
Palumbo, who is also Fernando’s doubles partner at one doubles, is the “best athlete on the team,” according to Paige.
“For him it is all about playing within himself and getting the right shot,” Paige added. “Chip could be a premier player in the MAAC at his position.”
The Stags face an uphill battle to knock off the powerhouses of the conference, Manhattan and Marist, but with the talent and experience they have, Paige and his players believes it can be done.
“We definitely can compete. So much of tennis is mental. How do we defeat teams that, on paper, are better than us?” asked Paige.
“Each one of our players has to ponder this question and come up with the answers.”
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