A victorious west coast swing boosts the tennis teams' records

As the season started with a victory for both the Men’s and Women’s Tennis against the University of District of Columbia, the Marlins have kept on producing a winning season. The men have an 8-0 overall record and are 1-0 in the ODAC. The ladies are 8-2 overall, with a 2-1 record in the ODAC. Since the season has started, both teams have had a total of 17 postponed or cancelled games, 10 on the women’s side and seven with the men. Tennis got to take a break from all the rain though and travel to the other side of the nation to play Marymount College in Palos Verdes, Calif.

Even with all the travel and distractions from Marymount being perched on a cliff that looks over the Pacific Ocean, the Marlins fought hard and came out with a win. The men pulled out a 4-3 victory, while the ladies won 8-1. With the women’s singles match the Marlins were able to win five out of the six matches. With the only loss both a one point lead out of the set. Sophomore Caroline Place took her match 6-3, 4-6, 11-9 improving her standing to 7-0 at the No. 3 flight and to 7-2 overall. Freshman Kierra McMillian beat her challenger 6-4, 6-2 improving her overall recorded to 5-4, while teammate freshman Annie Diemer became 7-2 after her victory at Marymount. After sweeping the doubles’ matches, the ladies returned back to home and rainy weather.

Senior Tom Drabczyk helped his team beat Marymount as the only Marlin to win both his single and double matches.

“It felt great to win my matches,” said Drabczyk . “We came out here and had fun. Still playing tennis on a campus like that was great.”

With the help of rookie Ben Hoskyn, Drabczyk won their match 8-2, while sophomores Jeff Zenisek and Chris Lyon pulled together to win their set 8-6. This makes Zenisek and Lyon undefeated for doubles, 4-0. Rookie Tom Popomaronis was another winner for the teams, taking a 6-1, 6-4 win at the No. 4 single, improving his overall recorded to 5-1.

As the teams traveled home, rain postponed their match against Bridgewater College on April 2, but did not stop them from defeating Eastern Mennonite College the next day. The men won 6-1and the ladies 5-4. Afterwards, the men traveled on April 5 to play cross-town rivals Christopher Newport University. The Marlins put forth a strong effort, but it was not enough and they were defeated 7-0. As the season comes to the end, the Marlins will have to make-up their rained out games for the next two weeks.

“These two weeks are the real games. We have to come out strong and be dedicated for the rest of the season,” said Lyon.

Both teams will play Roanoke College Saturday, April 9 at VWC.