Men’s Tennis Splits With Williams and Occidental

CMS Men’s Tennis played its second thrilling dual match against a top five team in as many days, falling to #5 Williams 5-4 on Saturday. The Stags then rallied in the afternoon to defeat Occidental 9-0 and remain unbeaten in SCIAC. Junior Mikey Lim (Honolulu, HI [pictured right]) was one of four Stags to earn singles wins against Williams, as CMS overcame a 3-0 deficit.

Against Williams, the Stags were swept in doubles for the first time this season by a Division III team. All three CMS teams fell behind early and were unable to recover, losing by 8-3, 8-6, and 8-6 scores at the first three positions. In the singles however, the Stags played with a renewed energy and focus, believing that they could erase the deficit. Robbie Erani (Fr. – New York, NY) was the first to win at #2, followed by Lim at #3, and then Victor Chien (Fr. – Diamond Bar, CA) at #6, all in straight sets, to bring the Stags to 3-all in matches. Eric MacColl (Jr. – Greenbrae, CA) then put CMS up 4-3 with his 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory at #5. After dropping #4, the Stags were again at 4-all in matches, with their fate in the hands of captain Lawrence Wang (Sr. – Orange, CA). Wang, for the second time in two days, had battled back from a set down to send the match to a decisive third set. Wang’s opponent Nick Lebedoff was the first to break serve at 4-3, giving Lebedoff a 5-3 lead and a chance to serve for the match. In a brilliant display of returning serve, Wang broke for 4-5, and then held for 5-all. After both players held serve again, the match went to a decisive tie-break. Wang played aggressively, dictating play on all but a few points, but ultimately fell short by a 7-5 score in the tie-break.

After the Stags valiant comeback attempt in the morning match, they returned to the courts against Occidental. CMS swept the doubles to take a 3-0 lead, surrendering only three games in three pro-sets. Junior Spencer MacColl (Greenbrae, CA) and senior Drew Sabater (Claremont, CA) then clinched the victory for the Stags with straight set wins at #4 and #3 respectively.

CMS is now 18-4 overall and 5-0 and tied for first place in SCIAC. The Stags host Redlands on Saturday, April 4 at 9:30 AM at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center, in a match that will determine control of the conference title. On Sunday April 5, CMS takes on Division I opponent UC Davis and non-conference opponent La Sierra University, both at 12 Noon.

#3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 4 vs #5 Williams 5
March 28, 2009 at CMS (Biszantz Family Tennis Center)

Doubles
1. Dicken Chaplin / Brett Thacher (WC) def. Guillaume Schils / Lawrence Wang (CMS) 8-3
2. Nick Lebedoff / Wil Petrie (WC) def. Robbie Erani / Ronald Wu (CMS) 8-6
3. Jeremy Weinberger / EKevin Shallcross (WC) def. Thomas Keiffer / Eric MacColl (CMS) 8-6

Singles
1. Nick Lebedoff (WC) def. Lawrence Wang (CMS) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(5)
2. Robbie Erani (CMS) def. Jeremy Weinberger (WC) 6-3, 6-1
3. Mikey Lim (CMS) def Ricky Devlin (WC) 6-2, 6-2
4. Wil Petrie (WC) def. Russell Brockett (CMS) 7-5, 6-3
5. Eric MacColl (CMS) def. Kevin Shallcross (WC) 1-6, 6-1, 6-1
6. Victor Chien (CMS) def. Karol Furmaga (WC) 6-0, 6-3

Order of completion
Doubles: 1, 2, 3
Singles: 2, 3, 6, 5, 4, 1

#3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 9 vs Occidental 0
March 28, 2009 at CMS (Biszantz Family Tennis Center)

Doubles
1. Guillaume Schils / Lawrence Wang (CMS) def. Reid Fenning / Chris Wan (OC) 8-0
2. Robbie Erani / Ronald Wu (CMS) def Stefan Pastor / Tyler Morgan (OC) 8-0
3. Thomas Keiffer / Eric MacColl (CMS) def. Vic Sowers / Jackson May (OC) 8-3

Singles
1. Ronald Wu (CMS) def. Chris Wan (OC) 6-1, 6-3
2. Thomas Keiffer (CMS) def. Reid Fenning (OC) 6-1, 6-4
3. Drew Sabater (CMS) def Jamal Fahim (OC) 6-1, 6-1
4. Spencer MacColl (CMS) def. Tyler Morgan (OC) 6-1, 6-1
5. Ben Wiener (CMS) def. Vic Sowers (OC) 7-6(4), 2-6, (10-8)
6. Ari Zyskind (CMS) def. Stefan Pastor (OC) 6-2, 6-4

Order of completion
Doubles: 1, 2, 3
Singles: 4, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5