The Washington University men’s tennis team proved worthy of its No. 8 national ranking on Monday, as it easily defeated the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) 6-1. UMSL, a Division II team, gave the Division III Bears little trouble, with the University losing just one set in singles play. With the win, the Bears upped their record to 15-1 for the season.
It was the green and red’s tenth straight victory, and with one more regular season match (Tuesday, as Student Life went to press) remaining, the Bears appear more than ready for postseason play.
Senior Ari Rosenthal continued his dominance at No. 1 singles. He improved his singles record to 21-3 for the year and has now won ten singles matches in a row. Rosenthal struggled in the first set, falling 4-6 to UMSL’s Francis Lam.
Rosenthal came back strong in the next two sets, however, as he dropped just three games in the final set and coasted to the win.
The Bears’ No. 2 player, freshman Charlie Cutler, defeated UMSL’s Stephen Pobst in straight sets, but it wasn’t easy. In a grueling first set, Cutler hung on to prevail 7-6 (9-7) before battling to a 6-4 win in the second stanza. The win was Cutler’s eighth straight, as he moved his season record in singles play to 19-4.
Senior William McMahan had few problems in his win over Mike Schaaf of UMSL at No. 3 singles play. McMahan took both sets, defeating Schaaf 6-3 and 6-4. The Urbana, Ill., native’s overall record for the spring now stands at 16-5.
Freshman Nirmal Choradia, playing at No. 4 singles, cruised in his first set, winning 6-0. In the second set, however, UMSL’s Peter Hantack provided Choradia with all he could handle, but Choradia eventually survivedthe second-set thriller and won 7-6 (7-1).
The Bears’ No. 5 and 6 singles players manhandled the UMSL competition. Senior Zack Fayne won at No. 5, 6-0 and 6-0, while sophomore Charlie Howard won at No. 6, 6-0 and 6-2. Fayne’s win was his sixth in as many tries, and he improved his overall singles record to 13-3 for the year.
The Bears struggled in doubles competition, winning only at No. 3. In that match, Fayne partnered with freshman Chris Hoeland to defeat James Rigby and Hantack 8-2.
The Bears are now set for UAA championship competition, which takes place this coming weekend in Atlanta, Ga.