NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Monmouth University men's tennis team opened up its spring season with a 6-1 victory over Colgate before falling to Yale by the same score in the first two dual matches of the 2014-2015 season, last weekend at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center.
In the spring opener on Saturday, the Raiders jumped ahead, stealing the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. The Blue and White responded and swept singles action, beginning with a 6-0, 6-0 win by second-year Hawk Bee Kumthonkittkul (Bangkok, Thailand/Pendleton School) at No. 5. Sophomore Luke Adamus (Mosman, New South Wales/Redlands) followed suit with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Rob Alter at No. 4, while classmate Christian Vieria notched a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 6. Przemyslaw Filipek (Bedzin, Poland/Second Lo [Silesia]) edged Alan Pleat at No. 2, 7-6, 6-3, before senior Victor Pugliese (Boulogne, France (CNED [San Diego]) defeated Tyler Lu at No. 1, 7-5, 6-4 for his 15th-straight singles match victory.
"I thought this was a good start to our season,” commented third-year head coach Cory Hubbard. “We came out very flat against Colgate in doubles play and they took it to us. Our team learned a valuable lesson that they need to come out with more energy and urgency. They responded well and swept the singles without dropping a set.”
Looking to match the result on Sunday, the Blue and White jumped on Yale by earning the doubles point. After the Bulldogs took the No. 3 match, 7-6, the No. 1 and No. 2 teams held on for victories to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
In singles play, Tyler Lu downed Pugliese 7-5, 6-4 to snap the 2014 MAAC Player of the Year's winning streak. The streak, which began February 22, 2014 covered 17 singles matches, all at No. 1. Filipek, playing No. 2, nearly forced a third set, but ultimately fell 6-4, 7-6, while Kummthonkittikul, playing No. 5, opened up play with Alex Hagermoser with a 6-4, win, but the Bulldog rallied for a 6-4, 6-2 three-set win to register the point.
“The highlight of the weekend was definitely the doubles against Yale,” added Hubbard. “The guys did an amazing job with their energy and competed better than I have ever seen and really dominated play. “We weren't able to keep the momentum after the doubles with a 2-hour break and Yale responded very well in singles.”
“We improved dramatically from Saturday and Sunday in our effort and energy. We are looking forward to competing again next weekend.”
Tennis Match Results
Colgate vs Monmouth
Jan 24, 2015 at New Haven, Conn.
Monmouth 6, Colgate 1
Singles competition
1. Pugliese, Victor (MU-M) def. Daughtery, Jacob ('GATE) 6-1, 7-5
2. Filipek, Przemyslaw (MU-M) def. Pleat, Alan ('GATE) 7-6, 6-3
3. (MU-M) def. Laub, Nick ('GATE) 6-1, 7-6
4. Adamus, Luke (MU-M) def. Alter, Bobby ('GATE) 6-4, 6-2
5. Kumthonkittikul, Bee (MU-M) def. Haile, Tom ('GATE) 6-0, 6-0
6. Vieira, Christian (MU-M) def. Hirschberg, Jake ('GATE) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Pleat, Alan/Laub, Nick ('GATE) def. Pugliese, Victor/Gomez, Alejandro (MU-M) 6-2
2. Filipek, Przemyslaw/Vieira, Christian (MU-M) def. Haile, Tom/Alter, Bobby ('GATE) 6-2
3. Daughtery, Jacob/Hirschberg, Jake ('GATE) def. Kumthonkittikul, Bee/Adamus, Luke (MU-M) 6-1
Match Notes:
Colgate 1-1
Monmouth 1-0
Doubles Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles Order of Finish: 5, 4, 3, 6, 2, 1
Tennis Match Results
Monmouth vs Yale
Jan 25, 2015 at New Haven, Conn.
Yale 6, Monmouth 1
Singles competition
1. Lu, Tyler (YALE) def. Pugliese, Victor (MU-M) 7-5, 6-4
2. Wang, Ziqi (YALE) def. Filipek, Przemyslaw (MU-M) 6-4, 7-6
3. Faierman, Daniel (YALE) def. (MU-M) 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
4. Svenning, Martin (YALE) def. Vieira, Christian (MU-M) 6-2, 6-1
5. Hagermoser, Alex (YALE) def. Kumthonkittikul, Bee (MU-M) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Doehler, Stefan (YALE) def. Adamus, Luke (MU-M) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Pugliese, Victor/Filipek, Przemyslaw (MU-M) def. Faierman, Daniel/Lu, Tyler (YALE) 6-4
2. /Vieira, Christian (MU-M) def. Svenning, Martin/Wang, Ziqi (YALE) 6-2
3. Andrienko, Fedor/Doehler, Stefan (YALE) def. /Kumthonkittikul, Bee (MU-M) 7-6
Match Notes:
Monmouth 1-1
Yale 3-0
Doubles Order of Finish: 2, 1,3
Singles Order of Finish: 4, 6, 2, 3, 1, 5
