By Josh Kestenbaum
Staff Writer
Coming off a close loss last week, the Lions came roaring back against the Ramapo College Roadrunners with a 9-0 home win on Wednesday, March 4.
The Lions started off hot in the doubles round, picking up victories in all three matches. On their way to these victories, the Lions only conceded seven total games. At No. 1 doubles, juniors Pierce Cooper and Billy Buchbinder had to grind out the first few games but ultimately pulled out an 8-2 victory and put the College up 1-0 early.
“In the beginning of the match, Ramapo was serving well,” Cooper said. “After (Buchbinder) and I broke them in a close game early on, we got a lot of momentum that carried through the rest of the match.”
The No. 2 doubles team of sophomores Jack August and Mike Stanley extended the Lions’ lead with their own, 8-2 victory. Closing out the Lions’ sweep of the doubles round, freshmen Sean Fernandez and Chris D’Agostino were victorious at No. 3 doubles by a score of 8-3.
The Lions’ success spilled over into the singles round where, once again, the Lions won all six matches. Playing No. 1 singles, Cooper double-bageled his opponent, winning by a score of 6-0, 6-0. August, playing in the No. 2 spot, defeated his opponent handily at 6-2, 6-1. At No. 3 singles, Buchbinder earned a close first-set victory and came back to take the second set decisively, ending with a final score of 6-4, 6-1. Playing No. 4 singles, D’Agostino pulled off a convincing 6-1, 6-2 win. Both finishing with 6-1, 6-0 scores, Fernandez and Stanley earned victories at the fifth and sixth spots, respectively.
“I did feel some sort of pressure in the beginning, but at this point, it’s all really in the back of my head,” Fernandez said regarding the stress of being a freshman in the starting lineup. “I come onto the courts not worrying that I am a freshman but just thinking about what I have to do to win the match.”
With this victory, the Lions improve to 2-1 on the season. The team is now beginning a three-week break that will extend until they return to the courts on Wednesday, March 25, to host the Division-II Kutztown University Golden Bears at 3 p.m.
