Two days, two matches, two different opponents and zero victories – but that’s not to say progress wasn’t made.
Against the University at Buffalo Friday evening and the University of Montreal Sunday, the Boston University men’s tennis team couldn’t take enough team points for a victory, losing 1-6 and 3-4, respectively. But despite the losses, coach Rocky Jarvis remains optimistic about his team’s season.
“[Friday] was probably the worst home defeat we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Jarvis, a second-year coach. “We will be fine.”
The highlight of the weekend for the Terriers came in the form of sophomore Jared Kobren. Kobren collected the only singles win against Buffalo, handling sophomore Nikesh Singh Panthlia in a two-set win, 7-6 and 6-3. Junior Barret Wolf joined Kobren in defeating Panthlia and junior Yules Hadisubroto in doubles play, 9-7.
But with just six practices in January, the Terriers were unable to shake off the ice of Winter Break, losing, 1-6.
“Our problem was that our depth wasn’t quite ready to compete,” Jarvis said. “Tennis is a game where you need to play against competition over such a long break, it’s not like you can pick it right back up after weeks away. It was obvious that almost no players had any competition over break.”
The coach understood his players were getting back into tennis shape, and he was pleased with things happening off the court, too.
“The best part about Friday was the really great fan support – over 50 people up in the stands,” Jarvis said. “It was a little raucous up there, pretty cool and fun.”
But the fans were unable to raise their team in the close match-ups that made the final score so lop-sided.
The Terriers proved on Sunday that they just needed a few matches to get their legs back underneath them, dropping a close exhibition match to Montreal.
Kobren continued his run of impressive play and won easily over Samy Saad, 6-1 and 6-3. The tandem of Kobren and Wolf again proved too much for their opponents in doubles, winning handily, 8-1, and capping off Kobren’s undefeated weekend at 4-0.
“Jared played very well, the best of the weekend by far,” Jarvis said.
BU swept the doubles competitions against Montreal when the duo of junior Ross Lohr and sophomore Giulio Gallarotti won their match, 9-7, and partners Miron Nissim and Philip DeMeo earned their victory, 8-6.
“Both the second and third doubles teams were behind 2-5 and came back to win,” Jarvis said.
Wolf won the first singles match with ease, 6-0 and 6-2, followed up a victory by his doubles partner. With BU having won all its matches up to that point and with momentum in the Terriers’ favor, a victory appeared to be at hand. Unfortunately, BU dropped its next four singles matches.
Lohr lost to David Desorchers, 4-6 and 3-6, and Nissim also dropped his match in two sets, 3-6 and 3-6. With a win still within their grasp, the Terriers dropped their final two singles matches, both in three sets.
Galloratti lost a very close match to David Turdeau, 3-6, 7-6 and 6-7, in what ended up being the team matchpoint after four hours of play.
Junior Karim Zahran lost the final match of the day winning a strong first match, 6-4, then letting the next two slip away, 1-6 and 1-6.
“I’m pretty happy with what we got on Sunday,” Jarvis said. “I’m pretty pleased by and far.
“We are getting back in the gym today,” Jarvis continued. “We need to toughen up mentally, technically and physically. I feel good about things.”