Ephs sweep Tufts, 9-0, to finish regular season

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. –  It was the perfect ending to a great regular season of competition for men’s tennis.  Williams dominated visiting conference opponent Tufts (8-7, 3-5), 9-0, in a tune-up before this weekend’s NESCAC Tournament to finish the regular season with a 15-2 record.

“This was a great end to the regular season,” said senior co-captain Gary Simonette.  “Getting a 9-0 win before the playoffs is definitely a confidence booster.”

The Ephs certainly did not need any boost of confidence this afternoon, as it was all smooth sailing for the team in both doubles and singles.  Grabbing a 3-0 advantage heading into singles play, Williams’ lineup easily put away the opposition in six straight set victories. 

In their final showing on their home courts, seniors Simonette and Dan Greenberg both came out on top of their matches.  Both cruised to opening 6-0 sets, while Simonette closed out his match in a 6-3 second set and Greenberg finished his match in a 6-4 final set.

Despite being ranked fourth in the nation, a midseason slip up versus Trinity cost the Ephs the number one seed in the NESCAC tournament hosted by Middlebury College.  Seeded third, Williams will face off against archrival Amherst on Friday at 4:00 p.m.  The Ephs defeated Amherst earlier in the season on April 6, 6-3. 

“We [Williams] feel very confident heading into the post season,” commented Ephs head coach Dave Donn.  “When we play well, we can play against anyone in the country.”

Williams 9, Tufts 0

Doubles

1)      Bret Thacher/Dan Greenberg (W) def. William Fleder/Paul Kohnstamm (T) --- 8-6

2)      Gary Simonette/Nick Lebedoff (W) def. Cyril Fountain/Tony Carucci (T) --- 8-4

3)      Jeremy Weinberger/Rick Devlin (W) def. Daniel Landers/Andrew Rosen (T) --- 8-2

Singles

1)      Greenberg (W) def. Fleder (T) --- 6-0, 6-4

2)      Lebedoff (W) def. Fountain (T) --- 6-2, 6-1

3)      Simonette (W) def. Carucci (T) --- 6-0, 6-3

4)      Weinberger (W) def. Rosen (T) --- 6-3, 6-2

5)      Karol Furmaga (W) def. Landers (T) --- 6-1, 6-2

6)      Devlin (W) def. Drew Frankel (T) --- 6-1, 6-1