At the halfway point in it’s season, Fairfield’s men’s tennis team has had a hard time putting consistent wins together, compiling a record of 3-10 so far this year.
As the second half of the season begins, the team is optimistic of finishing the season on a positive note and representing Fairfield well in the MAAC Tournament. At the moment Fairfield is in danger of having to participate in the dreaded “play in” game just to make the tournament.
“We’re improving as the season goes along, and learning through our experiences,” said team captain Joe Fennell.
Fennell was especially pleased with the efforts of sophomore Colin Torrance and freshman Kevin Nyarady who he said were “very good competitors and good athletes.”
Junior Mike Pignataro added, ” I think we’ve lost a lot of close matches so far, but we just need to turn it around and win those close matches during the second half of the season. We have the ability to compete with any team in the MAAC, we just need to start putting some wins together.”
The Stags lost their fourth straight match Tuesday, falling 6-1 to conference-rival Manhattan. Fairfield’s lone victory came at sixth singles when sophomore Pete Rudden won by forfeit after the Jaspers’ player was injured during the doubles competition.
The tandem of Fennell and sophomore Mike Theile, however, were able to pick up an 8-4 win at second doubles for the Stags on Tuesday, but didn’t factor in the team score.
Fairfield faces Hofstra today before traveling to Buffalo this weekend to face conference foes Niagara and Canisius. Niagara is currently second the conference standings while Canisius is near the bottom of the league rankings.
“This is going to be a very important weekend for us–in terms of MAAC positioning,” Pignataro said. “Niagara is one of the best teams in the conference this year, it would be huge if we went up there and beat them.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams take to the courts today at 2 p.m. to face Hofstra in a non-conference match.
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