Posted on April 12, 2007
The James Madison men’s tennis team, a winner of five out of its last seven matches, dropped a tightly-contested non-conference match 4- 3 to Norfolk State Tuesday.
The loss drops the Dukes to 6-10 overall as they get ready for the home stretch of the regular season before the Colonial Athletic Association conference tournament.
Norfolk State won the point in the double’s matches, which proved to be the deciding factor in the match overall. The No. 1 doubles match, which saw an 8-5 victory for Miroslav Vicek and Peter Krakora over Madison’s junior Jesse Tarr and freshman Mike Smith, put JMU in an early 1-0 hole.
“They both played really well and didn’t make many errors. I thought we played pretty well and was proud that we persevered and came back, but they were just the better team today,” Tarr said.
The Dukes lone win in the doubles matches came from the No. 3 combination of senior John Snead and sophomore Brian Rubenstein, who won its match 9-8. Snead continued his winning play into his single’s match, where he beat Norfolk’s Peter Krakora in the No. 2 singles match 7-6, 6-1. Snead was the only Madison player to go unbeaten on the day.
The other singles matches were played highly competitive, though, and ended with a 3-3 split between the two teams. One of Madison’s three wins came courtesy of senior Brian Clay, who beat Roman DelCastillo 6-4, 6-3.
“I knew my guy was really quick, so I tried to stay real patient and wait until I got the opportunity to go on offense. Then I knew I had to close the point out,” Clay said.
The Dukes have played well overall in doubles this season, which made the one point defeat sting all that much more.
“We normally play really well in doubles. I think guys just forgot to do a lot of the little things, like move their feet,” JMU coach Steve Secord said. “I was really proud of the way our guys responded though. Hopefully we can stay fit and stay healthy for the stretch run, and play well in the conference tournament.”
The Dukes have two important matches this weekend in Delaware, against CAA rivals in Hofstra and Delaware.
“Hofstra and Delaware are two of our biggest [matches] every year. Hopefully we can play well and get those wins, because we really need them,” Clay said.
Staring tomorrow, the Dukes will play four matches in five days to end the regular season. They will take on Hofstra Saturday and Delaware Sunday. Both matches will be held in Newark, Delaware.
Madison returns home to face Washington & Lee on April 17 at 3 pm.
Norfolk State 4, JMU 3
Doubles:
1. Vicek/Krakora (NSU) def. Tarr/Smith (JMU) 8-5
2. Zahariev/Yordanov (NSU) def. Campbell/Clay (JMU) 9-7
3. Snead/Rubenstein (JMU) def. Suchy/DelCastillo (NSU) 9-8 (0)
Singles:
1. Miroslav Vicek (NSU) def. Jesse Tarr (JMU) 6-3, 7-5
2. John Snead (JMU) def. Peter Krakora (NSU) 7-6, 6-1
3. Mike Smith (JMU) def. Vassil Zahariev (NSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Brian Clay (JMU) def. Roman DelCastillo (NSU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Pavel Suchy (NSU) def. Carlin Campbell (JMU) 7-6, 7-5
6. Bogdav Yordanov (NSU) def. Brian Rubenstein (JMU) 6-4, 6-4
