Clayton Tontarski, fourth year Industrial Engineering major, in the midst of a doubles match against Roberts Wesleyan Thursday, March 22.
William Palmer

Prior to the Men’s Tennis match on Thursday, March 22, there was some talk along the sidelines between the players, coaches and spectators about the sound of bagpipes, which rang out from somewhere nearby for the first two hours of the competition. Add the fact that the Tigers were playing in record high March temperatures of 80 degrees, and it might be fair to say that the team had many distractions during their 8-1 loss to the Roberts Wesleyan Raiders.

Working through the lengthy doubles and then singles matches, the Tigers executed their plays with precision and determination, but it was not enough as the Raiders racked up the match points. However, commenting on the attitude the team has when facing tough teams, RIT head coach Krystina Bachner says: “When they know it’s a challenge, they do a good job stepping up to the plate and competing at the top notch, versus sitting back and letting the other team dictate.”

Although RIT lost two of three doubles matches, fourth year Biology major Tennyson Saucedo and third year Environmental Science major Neville Bilimoria won the second-ranked doubles match 8-4. First doubles was a tight 8-6 loss. “We should’ve taken it,” said Bachner.

“They choked under pressure a little bit. [Fourth year Industrial Engineering major] Clayton Tontarski and [fourth year Mechanical Engineering major] Larry Hall … have a really good connection, and they know how to play doubles very solid.”

Despite the loss, Bachner said her team performed well. “We have a really solid lineup,” she asserted as the singles matches were ending. “We put everybody in the best position that they should be in.”

The Tigers lost all six of their singles matches, but the individual matches were by no means blowouts. Singles scoring in tennis dictates that whoever wins six games first wins the set, and whoever wins two out of three sets wins the match. RIT and Wesleyan pushed the top three-ranked singles matches to a third set.

Third year Environmental Science major Neville Bilimoria rests next to his opponent, German Michaylyszyn, midmatch Thursday, March 22.
William Palmer

While the loss was disappointing, the Tigers have improved over their last competition against the Raiders on September 10, when they lost all nine matches. Speaking lightly about the tough matches against the Raiders, Bachner says, “We play Vassar this weekend; this is a good warm-up for Vassar, because Vassar is in the Liberty League [with RIT].

It’ll be a good match-up for the men’s team on Sunday.”

Bachner is encouraged that her team seemed more disciplined and focused this game. She says, “Now they’re being more aggressive, and they’re being smarter with their shots.” While this didn’t result in a win for the Tigers against the Raiders, it should definitely pay off in the second half of the season.

Bachner is also excited to see the growth and depth on the team this year. The players are able to recognize their mistakes and correct them, improving the play of each individual. She says this makes the team as a whole stronger, as no one or two players are more dominant than the rest — many top-ranked players on the Tigers’ team have comparable skill.

The Tigers are in the middle of their first season as a member of the Liberty League and have earned a 4-5 record overall. RIT faced Vassar College on Sunday, March 25. Their next home game is against Hamilton College on Friday, March 30, at 4:00 p.m.