By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After enduring hard losses in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the men’s and women’s tennis teams look to make noise at this year’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Oracle Cup.
Sporting a 15-3 record last spring, the women’s team was dispatched by Johns Hopkins University, losing 5-1.
With more experience in hand, the Lady Lions will be lead by a senior trio of Brittany Reedman, Maddy Stoner and Danna Tsay. Junior Alyssa Baldi will follow up her dominant sophomore season. Last year, Baldi won 17 singles matches while only losing two. Baldi will also collaborate with junior Sneha Rangu on doubles matches.
During the past summer, the Lady Lions excelled off the tennis court as well. Reedman was 1 of the 20 recipients of the 2017 Google Women Techmakers Scholarship.
“It’s astonishing,” coach Scott Dicheck said. “I never had a player accomplish so much and be recognized on and off the field. She’s going to have a great career after graduation.”
The Lady Lions begin their march to the ITA Oracle Cup against Rutgers University-Newark at home on Friday, Sept. 1 at the Tennis Complex at 1 p.m. After blazing past Cabrini University in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the men’s team was blanked by Skidmore College, 5-0. With the loss in mind, the Lions will be led by aces such as senior Chris D’Agostino, junior Mitchel Sanders and Tim Gavornik.
The Lions will also feature a freshman tour squad of Kia Fatahi, Rahul Goculdas, Andrew Mok and Sean Reilly.
“We have new guys ready to start,” Dicheck said. “They’re talented and hard workers. We love their attitudes. They are going to develop so much here at TCNJ.”
The team will need players who can win as many matches as alumnus Jack August and Mike Stanley. At the same time, junior Omar Bokhari may have a breakout season after serving his way to a 16-6 record last season.
The men’s tennis team will first compete in the Lions tournament at home on Thursday, Sept. 10. The tournament is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. at the tennis complex.
