Oct. 19, 2008

The Patriots opened their dual season with a convincing 7-0 win against University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Mason combined to win 76 of the 90 games on the day. The Patriots had an advantage at the start as UMES had to forfeit one doubles and one singles match because the team had only five players.

The day began with the two doubles matches. Mason's top team of Brian Fitzgerald and Dan Schneider won 8-2. Schneider placed the ball very accurately today and Fitzgerald had some solid forehands as the duo coasted to victory.

The second pair saw its first action of the season as Matt Vaughn teamed up with Imran Nayeem. Vaughn showed great touch using drop shot volleys and perfectly placed lobs just out of the reach of his opponents. Nayeem found great patience in setting up for his ground strokes with even great results. Combined the pair had no difficulties as they won 8-1.

With one match going to a win by default, Mason opened the singles matches up 2-0 and only needing two more matches to take the day. The first win came from Arjun Sanghvi as he cruised to victory 6-1, 6-0 at the No.5 singles. This was Sanghvi's first time playing at the No.5 singles spot and he left nothing on the court.

The next singles victory came from Schneider as he continued his amazing doubles play and faced off against one of his opponents from his doubles match, Dorian Thomas. Schneider gave Thomas a 0-2 day with much of the same as his doubles match victory. Schneider's shots were nearly untouchable and his serve was a very unwelcomed asset leading to many aces and very short rallies for game points. In the end Schneider only saw three games taken from him on the day, winning this one 6-0, 6-1.

After securing six victories and the match won, Fitzgerald finished his match winning 6-2, 6-0. Fitzgerald employed his great intellect for the game, pinpointing every mistake left open by his opponent. During the first set he had difficulty keeping the ball in play and finding the appropriate touch on the ball, but that didn't take long to figure out leading him to win the final nine games of the match.

The second to last to finish his match was Lee Wexler as he saw some difficulty with his opponent. He won the match 6-2, 6-4. In the first set he began having problems finding the opponent's baseline by around a foot, but as the match continued so did Wexler's accuracy for the baseline. By the time the first set had reached its fourth game, 2-1 with Wexler leading, he had found his stroke and points of interest in his opponent's game. Suduinghe of UMES had difficulty gauging Wexler's service and had the intention to pepper every ball he hit. With this in mind Suduinsinghe found himself running a lot from side to side trying to return Wexler's shots with his power, except could not keep the ball in play at the same time. In the second set it was much of the same as Wexler employed his strategy with results a bit different, but still winning.

The last match of the day was Jordan Lipstock at the No.4 singles spot. He utilized a service and volley approach towards the match with great results winning 6-1, 6-0. Lipstock found his volley to be a great asset in the beginning games of the first set all the way to the second, but late in the match he served up a few aces to finish the match.

The Patriots next match will be against Hofstra University at the Mason Tennis Courts at 12:15 on October 26th.

Doubles
No.1- Fitzgerald/Schneider (Mason) def. Thomas/Suduinsinghe (UMES) 8-2
No.2- Vaughn/Nayeem (Mason) def. James/Warren (UMES) 8-1
No.3- Wexler/Sanghvi (Mason) wins by default
Singles
No.1- Brian Fitzgerald (Mason) def. Rashard James (UMES) 6-2, 6-0
No.2- Dan Schneider (Mason) def. Dorian Thomas (UMES) 6-0, 6-1
No.3- Lee Wexler (Mason) def. Emmajh Suduinsinghe (UMES) 6-2, 6-4
No.4- Jordan Lipstock (Mason) def. Richard Warren (UMES) 6-1, 6-0
No.5- Arjun Sanghvi (Mason) def. Prince Achimuogole (UMES) 6-1, 6-0
No.6- Imran Nayeem (Mason) wins by default