Jan. 25, 2007
The Fairfield men's tennis team will open the second half of its 2006-07 campaign on January 27 at 1:30 p.m. when the Stags take on Hartford at the Simsbury Tennis House.
With six of its most successful players returned from last season and the addition of four talented newcomers, the Stags had an excellent fall season. In October, Fairfield successfully defended its ECAC North Open Championship title. This spring the Stags are out to once again complete the feat of tying the school record for 12 victories as they did one year ago.
Fairfield also focused on conditioning during the fall season and has quickly become a more athletic and fit team. With all of these elements combined the Stags are ready to challenge for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title.
"The guys are the hardest working team I have been around since I've been at Fairfield," Head Coach Ed Paige said. "I can't wait for the season to get started."
Senior Jonathan Fernando will again find himself at No. 1 singles. The co-captain became Fairfield's all-time win leader in the fall, when he notched his 100th career victory. Last season Fernando continued to excel at No. 1 singles, recording an 18-17 overall record. He also tallied 14 doubles victories. Combined, Fernando notched 32 wins on the season to lead the team.
Freshman Ryan Berthod will check into the lineup at No. 2 singles, where he will face very tough competition throughout the spring. Berthod followed up a stellar career at Iona Prep with a solid fall effort. At Iona Prep, Berthod went 11-1 as a senior, posted a 42-4 career record, and was named team MVP and captain his final two seasons.
At No. 3 singles, senior Zach Morrison will look to replicate last season's performance. Morrison posted a 16-9 singles record while recording 10 doubles victories. The co-captain earned All-MAAC Second Team honors at No. 4 singles and at No. 3 doubles as well.
Sophomore Chip Palumbo will take the reigns at No. 4 singles. Palumbo had an excellent fall season in which he captured a gold medal at the ECAC North Open Championship, won his doubles flight at the Quinnipiac Invitational, and participated at the prestigious ITA Northeast Regional. As a freshman, Palumbo had an impressive rookie season notching a combined 24 victories. He went 13-17 in singles, while notching 11 doubles victories. He captured a silver medal at the ECAC North Open Championship and also earned MAAC Player of the Week honors.
Junior Balazs Szikla will again play at No. 5 singles. Last season, Szikla went 15-12, along with 12 doubles victories. He also earned All-MAAC Second Team honors at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles. His fall season was highlighted by a silver medal at the ECAC North Open Championship.
After spending the fall season in Australia, junior Glen Gannon returns this spring and will step into a role at No. 6 singles. Last season, Gannon recorded a 15-10 mark in singles play, including an 11-7 mark at No. 6, en route to All-MAAC Second Team honors. He also notched 14 doubles victories, including an 11-8 mark at No. 1 doubles with Fernando.
To compliment his solid top-six singles line-up, Paige has added talented newcomers Ben Geller, Bob Kelly, Tim Mahoney, and welcomed back sophomore Chris Bane. The foursome brings a renewed sense of competition to the team and, in the long run, will make the entire team more competitive.
"They need to be sharp to push the top six. And to break into the top six, they know they'll have to defeat one of those players in challenge matches," Paige said. "All four will push us and make us better."
Including the Hartford match, the Stags will play four indoor matches before heading to Florida for their annual Spring Break trip. The men's team will return home on March 21 to host Boston University in the first outdoor match of the spring.
