Gophers Bow Out of NCAA Men's Tennis Championships
The Goucher College men’s tennis team (15-11, Landmark 5-2) bowed out of the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships on Friday afternoon, falling to #17 (Central Region) John Carroll, 5-1, at Johns Hopkins University.
BALTIMORE, Md. – The Goucher College men's tennis team (15-11, Landmark 5-2) bowed out of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championships on Friday afternoon, falling to #17 (Central Region) John Carroll, 5-1, at Johns Hopkins University.
The Gophers fell in a hole early, losing all three doubles matches in tight decisions. Senior Midori Fujitani (Tokyo, Japan) and junior Jack Hodges (London, England) were the first doubles team to fall, 4-8. The duo is the winningest team in Goucher history with 39 wins.
Sophomore Elliot Diehl (York, Pa.) and freshman Michael Herman (Prague, Czech Republic) played #1 doubles to a 5-8 loss, despite holding an early lead. The #3 doubles team of sophomore Josiah Meekins (Trenton, N.J.) and Frankie Mullinix (Washington, D.C.) followed suit with a 4-8 loss.
The Blue Streak wielded a 3-0 advantage heading into singles play, forcing the Gophers into a corner, needing five wins. Nick Siciliano secured John Carroll's fourth win of the afternoon at #4 singles, beating Diehl, 6-0, 6-1.
Soon after, Herman proved why he was named the Landmark Conference Co-Rookie of the Year, winning #2 singles, 6-1, 6-3 over Gustavo Garcia and bringing Goucher one point closer to the win.
With the Blue Streak only one point from locking the win in the NCAA First Round, Fujitani battled to win his first set at #6 singles. Freshman Slade Dumas (Great Falls, Va.) trailed after dropping his first set Tyler Cole, 2-6, but was battling close 4-5 in the second set. Mullinix also was battling at #3 singles following a first set loss but was looking to make a comeback in the second set.
However, the match came down to #1 singles, with Hodges taking on the #14 ranked player in the Central Region, Jad Abdul-Aal. Abdul-Aal took the first set 6-1, but Hodges came out in the second set ready to deal. He took the lead early 2-1, but the set was flipped 2-3 by Abdul-Aal. Hodges bounced back for the 4-3 lead but was unable to hold on as the #1 player from John Carroll sealed the match and a berth in the NCAA Second Round.
How It Happened:
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Doubles competition |
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1. Jad Abdul-Aal/David Sinense (JCU-M) def. Elliot Diehl/Michael Herman (GOUM) 8-5 |
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2. Gustavo Garcia/Dillon O'Brien (JCU-M) def. Midori Fujitani/Jack Hodges (GOUM) 8-4 |
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3. Tyler Cole/Nick Siciliano (JCU-M) def. Josiah Meekins/Frankie Mullinix (GOUM) 8-4 |
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Singles competition |
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1. Jad Abdul-Aal (JCU-M) def. Jack Hodges (GOUM) 6-1, 6-4 |
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2. Michael Herman (GOUM) def. Gustavo Garcia (JCU-M) 6-1, 6-3 |
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3. Frankie Mullinix (GOUM) vs. David Sinense (JCU-M) 6-7 (3-7), 1-3, unfinished |
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4. Nick Siciliano (JCU-M) def. Elliot Diehl (GOUM) 6-0, 6-1 |
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5. Slade Dumas (GOUM) vs. Tyler Cole (JCU-M) 2-6, 4-5, unfinished |
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6. Midori Fujitani (GOUM) vs. Scott Adsit (JCU-M) 6-3, 2-3, unfinished |
Season Wrap-Up:
The Gophers close out another great season, finishing with a 15-11 record – tied for the third-most wins in a season in program history. Goucher advanced to the NCAA tournament with its second consecutive Landmark Conference Championship and third consecutive appearance in the Landmark finals match.
The Gophers are losing two important members of their team – seniors Midori Fujitani and Chad Resnik (Miami, Fla.). Resnik is a four-year member of the Goucher men's tennis team having won 17 total matches. Fujitani will leave Goucher College holding records in team doubles wins (39) with teammate Jack Hodges, and singles wins (64). He completes his career second all-time in singles wins in the Landmark Conference, one win behind the record of 65 singles wins.
NCAA First Round Photo Gallery here.
