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`While most Millersville students were relaxing during Spring Break, the men’s tennis team was getting to work and starting their spring season with five matches in one week in Hilton Head, S.C.
The Marauders returned home after winning four out of five matches.
Head Coach Shari Bucklin-Webber thought the trip was crucial for multiple reasons. First, the Marauders gained experience over spring break, which they had not done in previous seasons.
“In the past, we were at a competitive disadvantage since most of the other conference teams did have matches during this time,” Bucklin-Webber said. “We were constantly playing ‘catch up’.”
The trip also helped the Marauders to build team chemistry.
“It allowed the team to bond and get to know each other again after the break following the fall season,” Bucklin-Webber said.
After a loss against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference foe Bloomsburg 9-0, Millersville won their next four matches over the next three days.
In their first win against Grand Rapids Community College, the Marauders excelled in singles competition. They won five out of six singles matches after dropping two of three doubles matches. Seniors Mark Treires and Dusty Speicher won at No. 2 doubles 8-2.
Sophomore Drew Slocum won his first match of the year at No. 1 singles over Jeff Karsinski, 6-2, 6-4. Also picking up wins were junior Andrew Sorgi, Treires, and freshmen Erik Wright and Colton Brown.
The Marauders also earned two shutout victories last week, defeating both Marywood University and Muskingum College 9-0.
Freshman Henry Ben had the most convincing win against Marywood, a 6-0, 6-0 victory over John Domider. Ben and freshman Donald Swantko also won at No. 3 doubles 8-1.
Slocum’s fourth-straight win at No. 1 singles came against Muskingum in an easy 6-0, 6-0 defeat of Jayson Hilborn. Slocum and Sorgi also edged out a No. 1 doubles victory against Hilborn and Adrian Matthews 8-6.
Millersville’s other victory of the week was a 7-2 win over Notre Dame College. The Marauders won all three doubles matches in convincing fashion and picked up four wins in their six singles matches.
Playing against various levels of competition throughout the week, the Marauders found themselves in many different situations.
“The competition was varied enough that we were tested and had some easier matches that we could work on some things and find our comfort zone,” Bucklin-Webber said.
“I expected us to do well in our spring break matches but there were some individual matches that went much better than they could have.”
The team now finds themselves in unfamiliar territory. Their current record is now 5-3 following a 1-2 fall season. They have a long winning streak and look to build on the confidence they have gained.
“A four match winning streak is always good, but we still need to take one match at a time and focus on the task at hand,” Bucklin-Webber said.
Just because they have been winning matches does not mean there is still work to do. Bucklin-Webber has been stressing closing out big points and maintaining leads, especially in doubles competition.
The Marauders travel to Chestnut Hill on Saturday and hope to continue their winning ways after not having a match the last two weeks.
“I am expecting the team to be more focused and aggressive this week against Chestnut Hill. I hope we can raise our level of intensity and our efficiency with each match,” Bucklin-Webber said.