Gage Nutter
Staff Writer
@Gage32097
The Springfield College men’s tennis team split two matches last week. The squad was able to put on an impressive performance against Clark University to get a 7-2 victory, but fell short against Babson the following Saturday with a final score of 8-1.
The team will end the regular season with a record of 8-6, 3-2 in NEWMAC play. That marks the most wins for Springfield in NEWMAC play since 2008. The Pride have also earned a spot in the NEWMAC Championship field for the first time since the 2012 squad, who was the fourth seed.
Captain Tanner DeVarenns is definitely proud to be a part of achieving this milestone, but he also knows that when it comes to the postseason, everyone starts with a clean slate.
“Being the first team since 2008 to win three NEWMAC matches is definitely a huge accomplishment,” said DeVarenns. “We are very proud to be the ones to do that, but with that being said, we still have a lot of work to do in the postseason, where everyone’s record is 0-0.”
Against Clark, the Pride began the match earning all three doubles points, highlighted by a gritty effort from the top squad of Court Honda and Alex Romaine. Facing an early 5-2 deficit, the duo rattled off the final six games en route to an 8-5 victory. Tanner DeVarennes and Justin Danielewicz cruised to an 8-4 win at No. 2 and Kyle Beynor and Cameron Grant notched an 8-6 victory at No. 3.
Springfield picked up wins at the top four singles spots to clinch the critical NEWMAC victory. DeVarennes eased his way to a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1.
Against Babson, Romaine and Honda obtained a win, 8-5, to earn the Pride’s lone point of the match, as DeVarennes and Danielewicz fell, 8-5, at No. 2 doubles. Grant and Beynor fell 8-6 in the No. 3 slot.
DeVarennes fell at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-2, while at No. 2 singles, Romaine was bested for just the third time this season, falling 6-2, 7-6, 7-5. At No. 3 singles, Honda fell, 6-3, 6-2, while at No. 4, Danielewicz dropped a 6-0, 6-4 decision. At No. 5 singles, Beynor fell 6-3, 6-1. Lastly, Zack Keene fell 6-1, 6-1.
Everyone knows that the postseason in sports is high in pressure, but DeVarennes feels like this team is up to the challenge.
“We have a full week of training before we play our next match,” said DeVarennes. “We will use this time to mentally prepare and practice those pressure situations so when Saturday comes we are ready to go.
Springfield will wait to find out who it will face in the impending NEWMAC Tournament, that will begin with the first round on Saturday, April 30.