Men’s tennis sets their sights for the spring playoffs. (Credit: ENC Athletics)
Ten players, one mission: to beat Nichols College in the CCC playoff Championships to secure a spot at Nationals. Last season, the ENC men’s tennis team fell short against Nichols in their final playoff match, but the 2017-2018 season brings plenty of promise.
The current men’s tennis group is the strongest that ENC has ever seen. With the fall season wrapping up, the Lions are eager to get back on the court and start preparing for an epic spring season.
It’s no secret that the men’s tennis team is one of the best teams on ENC’s campus, given their season winning record and their success through playoffs. Not only were they undefeated after the end of their fall season, but the team also secured victories over Division I and Division II teams in their off-season match play.
Holy Cross, a DI program, fell short of a victory against the Lions on September 13, with the final score of 5-2. Two weeks later, the Lions went head to head with the DII school, Stone Hill College. The final score of the match was a whopping 6-2.
Laurent Ruttkowski, a sophomore on the team, said that the team plays so well together because they are like a family. Ruttkowski spoke on behalf of the team, stating that they cannot wait to come together and take on rival Nichols.
Alex Partyka, a Junior from Moscow, Russia, plays as the first seed on the team, but he hopes to continually improve his own personal game. With a record of 13-2 during last year’s season, Partyka has his standard set high. Partyka’s hope for the team is to win the conference, move on to nationals, and make a big impact there.
The men’s tennis team is composed of many talented athletes, and their fans are extremely excited to see just how far this group will go.