WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- Williams College rookie head coach Dan Greenberg’s men’s tennis team at 9-5/6-2 NESCAC has been seeded third in the NESCAC Tennis Tournament to be played this Friday through Sunday at Amherst College.
The Ephs will face sixth-seeded Bates (11-5/ 5-4 NESCAC) in a 1:00 p.m. match Friday on the Amherst College courts. Both Amherst and Middlebury, as top seeds, were given first round byes.
The winner of the Williams – Bates match will face host Amherst (22-8/7-1 NESCAC) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, while Middlebury (16-2/8-0 NESCAC) will tangle with the winner of Friday’s #4 Bowdoin (10-5/5-3 NESCAC) vs. #5 Trinity 12-5/4-4 NESCAC) also at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Williams and Bates did not meet in the regular season this year, but the Ephs did take last year’s NESCAC quarterfinal round match 5-1. Bates will enter the Friday match having won four of its last six matches, while the Ephs have won five of the last six.
“I feel like we're playing pretty well right now,” noted Greenberg. “Obviously #1 Middlebury just beat us 8-1, but it didn't feel like a blowout to our guys. We've been working hard, and even on Sunday [vs. Middlebury], we saw moments where that work had paid off. We clearly saw a few things we need to fix, but hopefully we can do that and put everything together for NESCACs.”
Greenberg had to adjust his usual lineup slightly vs. Middlebury due to some illness, but he fully expects to be back at full strength for the weekend. “I hope to be at full strength this weekend,” Greenberg stated. “We have a few minor injuries, as do most teams at this point in the season, but that shouldn't affect us too much. The guys are taking care of their bodies, and with our depth, other guys can step up if need be.”
Coaches never like to see their team start off a match slowly as it can put them in a deep hole and this is especially true against Bates. “They [Bates] play smart doubles, so it'll be important for us to be at our sharpest from the opening point,” cautioned Greenberg. “We haven't played them this year, but we know their guys and definitely expect to be in for a fight.”
2010 NESCAC MEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Friday, May 7 at Amherst
No. 5 Trinity vs. No. 4 Bowdoin - 1:00 p.m.
No. 6 Bates vs. No. 3 Williams - 1:00 p.m.
Semifinals - Saturday, May 8 at Amherst
Winner No. 5/No. 4 vs. No. 1 Middlebury - 1:00 p.m.
Winner No. 6/No. 3 vs. No. 2 Amherst - 1:00 p.m.
Championship - Sunday, May 9 at Amherst
Semifinal Winners - 1:00 p.m.
