Posted on April 5, 2007
Whether it had something to do with proving to themselves they could win or just the fact they were fed up with losing, the JMU men’s tennis team wasted no time jumping on George Mason Monday.
But after mounting a 7-2 lead in an eight-game pro-set, the No. 1 doubles team of junior Jesse Tarr and freshman Mike Smith saw the Patriot tandem of senior Jay Friedman and sophomore Jordan Lipstock reel off four straight games to pull within one.
“I wouldn’t say we were worried about Clemson or Radford, but we knew we had to focus with that in the back of [our] mind,” Smith said.
The mention of the two non-conference schools referred to last weekend, when JMU was dealt two 7-0-blowout losses courtesy of the Tigers and Highlanders. After seeing their five game lead quickly evaporate against Mason, it looked like déjà vu for the Dukes.
Mason served to tie the match, but met a resilient effort from the Madison pair who trailed 40-30 in the game. Tarr and Smith would return serve on Mason’s game point to force deuce and eventually win the game in Deuce No. 3, when Smith spiked a forehand-winner.
“When it came time, we had confidence in each other to win points,” Tarr said. “Mike’s solid all the way around.”
No. 2 and No. 3 doubles followed suit as JMU dominated the overall match winning all six singles contests for a 7-0 final score. Smith dropped the team’s only set in a match that finished after the Dukes had already clinched the victory.
In No. 1 singles action Tarr soundly beat Mason freshman Anastas Bugadov in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0. The two players traded scores on their first two service games before Tarr broke serve to go up 4-2. Bugadov got back within one winning the next game breaking Tarr’s serve. The animated and at times frustrated JMU leader disputed the call before conceding and congratulating Bugadov’s shot.
“Sometimes you want to will the ball in,” Tarr said. “[But] You have to trust the other player.”
Tarr was able to refocus and win the next two points to take the first set. In the second set he was all business, sending the Patriot freshman from sideline to sideline chasing winners.
The first game of the second set lasted less than two minutes as Tarr broke serve, denying Bugadov a single point. The closest Bugadov would get to winning a game came on his third service when he took the advantage in the first deuce. Tarr scored the next point though, forcing Deuce No. 2 before taking the game.
“He’s a good player, it’s the [kind of] match-up that’s not good for me,” Tarr said. “I felt like I was able to stay in it and it looked like he got a little winded.”
Fatigue clearly set in for Bugadov as Tarr served for the decisive sixth point. Bugadov badly miss-hit the first serve to go down 15-0. Tarr came to net two points later for a demoralizing cross-court winner to go up 30-15. Bugadov would force deuce, but Tarr held serve to win the set and match.
With the win Madison improved 6-9 overall and 2-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Head coach Steve Secord looked at the team’s play as a good sign going into Wednesday’s match against Norfolk State and more importantly upcoming play against other CAA rivals.
“Being un-scholarship, we play some tough nationally ranked teams,” Secord said. “We don’t really think we’ll win these, but it prepares us for teams like Delaware and Hofstra.”
JMU 7, George Mason 0
Singles:
1. Jesse Tarr (JMU) def. Stas Budagov (GMU) 6-3, 6-0
2. John Snead (JMU) def. Dan Schneider (GMU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Mike Smith (JMU) def. Jay Friedman (GMU) 6-3, 3-6, (10-3)
4. Brian Clay (JMU) def. Jordan Lipstock (GMU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Carlin Campbell (JMU) def. Matt Vaughn (GMU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Brian Rubenstein (JMU) def. Martin Brown (GMU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles:
1. Tarr/Smith (JMU) def. Friedman/Lipstock (GMU) 8-6
2. Campbell/Clay (JMU) def. Schneider/Budagov (GMU) 8-4
3. Rubenstein/Snead (JMU) def. Vaughn/Brown (GMU) 8-1
