United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Tennis

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(4/23/09)--The US Coast Guard Academy tennis team won its NEWMAC quarterfinal match against Springfield College tonight 5-1. The match was played to completion – i.e. stopped as soon as one team won five points.

The Bears adjusted its doubles line up and moved junior Chris Pappe and freshman Greg Mitchell to #1 after their strong performances against Springfield last Saturday and Conn College on Tuesday. The freshmen duo of Nick Martin and Wesley Figaro took the #2 spot, and senior captain Tim Ozimek and sophomore James Vuckovic played #3.

Springfield jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead in the #3 doubles. At the same time #1 and #2 doubles played dead even with scores of 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, etc. with CGA and Springfield taking turns holding the lead.

But after over 90 minutes of play, #3 doubles was still on the court having won 4 straight games to tie the score up at 7-7. CGA was up 7-6 on courts #1 and #2.

The first to fall was #3, with Springfield getting the last two games to win 9-7. Next the Bears took the #2 doubles at 8-6. But at #1 Springfield broke and then held to take the lead and hold a match game at 8-7 - Bears serving. Chris Pappe held, hitting several big serves, to pull even at 8-8 and force a tiebreaker. Springfield jumped out to a 2-0 start, pulled ahead 4-1, then 5-2. One more point and Springfield would have held four match points. But the Bears took the next 5 points and won the tiebreaker 7-5. Coast Guard – 2, Springfield – 1.

In singles James Vuckovic was off the #4 court quickly with a 6-1, 6-1 win. Nick Martin followed winning at #2 by 6-0, 6-2. Coast Guard 4, Springfield – 1.

On court #3 Pappe was down 2-5. Wesley Figaro, playing #5, and Tim Ozimek, playing #6, had each lost their first sets 5-7 and 3-6 respectively. Springfield was threatening to tie the dual match.

Greg Mitchell, playing #1 was leading in his first set, but playing marathon points. He eventually won the first set 6-3.

In their second sets, Figaro fell behind 1-4, while Ozimek kept things close at 4-4. Pappe fought back winning five straight games to take his first set 7-5 and was up 4-1 in the second when Mitchell ended the dual match, winning his second set 6-2.

The 8-9 (3-3 NEWMAC) Bears head to Wheaton College Saturday morning to face #1 seed, 14-2 (5-0 NEWMAC) MIT in a NEWMAC semifinal match at 10:30 a.m. The winner advances Saturday afternoon to the finals to face the winner of the #3 seed Wheaton/#2 seed Babson semi-final.