Welcome back again. Since my last post we've played 3 matches against ranked teams and I'll start off with a quick recap of each. On Thursday we took down Cal Lutheran 7-2. Two years ago conditions were crazy for that match with near gale force winds, but this year it was perfect tennis weather at a brand new facility. We swept the doubles followed by the 3-6 spots in the lineup having straight set wins to clinch match. Friday was the always intense match against Redlands. The team came out flat and payed for it right away getting swept in the doubles. Being down 3-0 we knew a battle was about to begin in the singles. Kevin took down his opponent quickly to send the match score to 3-1, but Nick's opponent came out firing to send the score back to 4-1. At just about the same time, Will and I won our singles matches to bring it back to 4-3, leaving Rick and Karol on court. Both were involved in extremely close and well fought 3 set matches. Rick was able to pull out his match, however the match ended with a 5-4 loss as Karol lost after putting up a great fight. Although the match ended with a loss, we were proud of the fight we put up in singles after the hole we dug ourselves into with the doubles.
Friday night we slept in a hotel in Claremont in preparation for our 10am start time. The Redlands match left most on the team pretty pissed and ready to get fired up against the #3 ranked Claremont team. The match started with great intensity across the doubles lineup and we were able to capture all 3 matches. Dicken and Bret took out the defending doubles national champions to take the #1 spot. Even up 3-0, we knew the match was far from over. Rick, Karol, and I all fell in straight sets and Kevin fell in three. Although I can't speak for the other guys, I definitely came out flat for the singles and didn't bring the intensity and focus needed to win matches against a tough team like Claremont. With Will and Nick left on the court and us down 4-3, we would need both matches to clinch the victory. Will came through with a clutch 7-5, 6-3 victory. That left Nick on the court against one of the top ranked players in the country. Nick took the first, but his opponent played unbelievable tennis at the end of the second set to send the match to a 3rd set. Both traded holds until late in the 3rd when Nick was able to get a break and serve for the match. However, his opponent played a perfect return game to level the match. They again traded holds sending the match to a tiebreaker. Nick showed incredible poise and was able to pull out the match 7-5 in the breaker sealing the win 5-4.
After 4 matches in 5 days we were ready for a day off. We went to the beach on Sunday followed by a fun all you can eat sushi dinner. Today we'll train for a few hours and then head off to a pizza party hosted by one of the host families for our last night in LA. Tomorrow we leave for Atlanta to play Sewanee on Thursday and Emory on Friday. After that, it's back to my house for 1 night and then back to Williamstown for the start of our conference schedule.
Until next week,
Jeremy
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