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April 23, 2005
Orlando, Fla. - Story written by Head Tennis Coach Doug Wright. This season marks the changing of the guard for the Men's Tennis team. We are in a transition period as we say goodbye to teammates who are finishing their athletic careers at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Rob Schneider played #2 singles and #2 doubles for the last two years. He will be graduating with a degree in aviation science. George Ray at #3 singles and #2 doubles will complete his studies in criminal justice. Our #5 and #6 singles players are graduating in only three years with degrees in computer science and plan on pursuing post graduate degrees at George Mason University. (Hasika Pamanuwa and Shahan Sudusinghe) and our doubles specialist at #3, Max Miller will also graduate on to bigger and better things. So the 2005 MEAC Tennis Championships marks the end of an era. These departing seniors were determined to leave on a high note and in many ways they did. We stepped up our training this season with improved weight workouts, point situation drills, volleying footwork drills, and doubles tactical drills. We entered the championships off strong performances against Delaware State, Coppin, and Hampton near the end of the regular season. Our first round opponent in Orlando this year was the # 6 seed, Hampton University. Two years ago this team was MEAC Champions. Their top two seeds are some of the strongest players in the conference. The level of play was very high during the doubles, but the steadiness and advanced target selection was too strong from the Hampton doubles pairs. Chris Clarke and Harold Fowler faced Chang and Fernando from HU. The improved communication between our partners was effective and UMES got on the scoreboard early holding serve. Hampton came back strong winnning rapid exchanges at the net and took control with their serves throughout the day. Hampton finishes it 8-1. Our second doubles were in a similar situation Rob Schneider and George Ray played a solid match, but couldn't make an impact against such a strong team. Hampton takes the match 8-0. The #3 doubles team of Max Miller and Shahan Sudusinghe did not complete their match (since the doubles point had been determined).
Chris Clarke faced off against All Conference A.J. Chang at the #1 spot. The first set was similar to the last time they met in Princess Anne. Chang is a very quick and powerful player with exceptional balance. He keeps the ball deep, forcing the opponent off balance. Clarke had some excellent rallies and attacked the net when he had the opportunity. Chang captured the opening set 6-0. Our Fighting Hawk came back stronger in the second, employing the serve and volley to keep the pressure on. Chang closed it out 6-2. Robin Schneider was up against a tall powerful machine named Zorilla Ditoui. This Hampton player played nearly error free while at the same time punishing nearly flat ground strokes. Schneider was shut out of both sets. George Ray at #3 and Hasika Pamanuwa at #5 were also unable to put points on the board. Harold Fowler however took a game in the first and second sets when the match was discontinued. This moved UMES into the backdraw against Delaware State the following day. We got up early and put in a great practice. It was a little warm but the team was confident and in good spirits. Clarke and Fowler took the court against Popescu and Lapere of DSU. Our players have improved dramatically and are working well as a team. They couldn't make an impact against the experience and power of the Delaware squad today. The match ended 8-0 for DSU. Our #2 Doubles team was another story entirely. Rob Schneider and George Ray have been partners for three years. They think like a team they move like a team. And today they steam rolled the Hornets like a team. UMES takes the match 8-2. The #5 DSU player is defaulted so our #3 doubles team scores the win and puts one point on the match scoreboard. As the singles gets under way, UMES leads 2-0 with the #6 singles default. Everyone is confident and ready to take it to them. Our #1 Chris Clarke faces the steady baseline play of the Romanian Catalin Popescu. Chris looks relaxed and confident. He follows his game plan and pressures the opponent by attacking the net. Clarke takes one game each set, 6-1-6-1. Robin Schneider plays the match of the day at #2. He served strong all day. Mixed up big forehands and approach shots to keep the pressure on. After over an hour, the Delaware State player takes the first set in a tie break. George Ray a few courts away faces Liston Fahie at the #3 position. Liston is a senior (like George) and has the confidence and will power that comes from experience. If George plays well and sticks to his game plan this is a possible win. I think he wanted it too much, and never found that balance of being relaxed and aggressive. DSU takes the first set. Ray settles down in the second and is controlling the match at times. He seems to be gaining momentum. The set is very close at the start, each player holding serve to two all. The Delaware State player pulls ahead and finishes the second set amid controversy with the umpire 6-3. Rob hears that the match score overall is tied two-two. He looks strong in the second set. Hitting huge service winners to hold serve convincingly. The heat is starting to be a factor. Lapere from DSU looks to be making careless tired errors. Schneider holds serve again to bring it to three all. In the meantime Hasika Pamanuwa loses the first set 6-2 but comes back strong to take the second and third 6-1,6-1. This was an outstanding reovery and an excellent performance in the later stages of the match. At the #4 position Harold Fowler looks strong and confident. He jumps out to the initial lead 5-4. Adae Amoako from DSU keeps the ball in play and runs down everything. The DSU #4 takes the set 7-5. Harold is a bit shaken that he did not finish the first set when he had the chance. Delaware State takes the second set and the match 6-2. At this point the total match score is 3-3 and everyone is hoping Rob can pull it out for the team victory. Schneider has his serve broken to go down 3-4. Lapere is feeling the pressure and fatigue. Rob forces him to deuce, again and again. (Five times) Schneider is within one point of breaking back. Finally the Delaware State player wins that game and the next to finish the match 7-5 (7-1), 6-3. Delaware State pulls it off 4-3. This season is best summarized by moments of brilliant play against stiff competition. Individual excellence, but we need more people putting it together on the same day on a consistent basis. We are looking forward to some promising recruits who will help our team step up to the next level next year. Lets Go Hawks. |
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