Men’s Tennis Dominates Connecticut College in Weekend 9-0 Win

Last Saturday, the third-ranked men’s tennis team achieved a resounding 9-0 triumph over the 45th ranked Connecticut College, extending their win streak to four matches. This victory has propelled them to the second spot in the NESCAC standings, just one game behind their perennial rivals, Amherst.

The Ephs commenced the match strongly in the second doubles as Simon Volkema ’26 and co-captain Shawn Berdia ’25 bested the Camels’ pair of Sigmund Winiecki and Jules Taylor-Kerman in an impressive 8-0 encounter. The strong start continued into the third doubles, as co-captain Andrew Chong ’25 and Kush Anand ’27 secured an 8-2 victory over their opponents.

In the first doubles, co-captain Matt Kandel ’24.5 and Leon Liu ’27 emerged triumphant with an 8-3 win over their opponents, further solidifying the Ephs’ lead.

Despite challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and freezing temperatures, the Ephs maintained their momentum throughout the match. Kandel expressed his pride in the team’s performance, commending their energy and resilience in the face of adverse conditions.

Following the doubles victories, the Ephs continued their dominance in the singles matches. Kandel secured a double-set win in first singles, with Liu and Chong following suit in their respective matches. Anand added to the team’s success with another straight-set victory in fourth singles.

The nail-biting second singles match between Berdia and Taylor-Kerman culminated in a three-set tiebreaker, ultimately solidifying the Ephs’ victory. Berdia’s exceptional performance, including a crucial dive to secure a match point, proved instrumental in the team’s triumph.

Nicholas Chen ’26 emphasized the team’s collective effort to perform strongly throughout the season, highlighting their goal to achieve comfort and consistency on the court.

Looking ahead, the Ephs are preparing for a weekend of NESCAC matchups, where they will face Wesleyan on April 13 and Trinity on April 14. Kandel also took the opportunity to reflect on the team’s bond, attributing their success to the close-knit relationships among the seven members of the team.

With six matches remaining in the season, the team is determined to maintain their competitive edge and secure victories against their NESCAC opponents. Kandel expressed his unwavering belief in the team’s ability to compete at the highest level, expressing their aspirations to clinch the NESCAC title and pursue the NCAA National Championship.