The men’s tennis team from Princeton University narrowly missed out on victory against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Despite being ranked 33rd, the team fell to the 41st-ranked VCU with a score of 4-2. The intense match took place at the Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.
Head Coach Billy Pate lauded the determination of the VCU team, acknowledging their impressive comeback and momentum. Despite the defeat, Coach Pate expressed pride in his team’s resilience throughout the season and their successful journey to reach this point. He remains positive about the team’s future prospects.
The Tigers’ strong start was highlighted by an outstanding performance in doubles, with Alan Kam and Sebastian Sec emerging victorious in their match against Mathis Bondaz and Romain Gales. No. 29 Paul Inchauspe and Filippos Astreinidis secured the doubles point, defeating No. 41 German Samofalov and Oscar Pinto Sansano.
In singles, Ellis Short excelled and secured a win over Hamza El Amine. It was a valiant effort from the team, whose appearance in the NCAA Tournament was their second in the past three seasons and the tenth in program history.
Looking ahead, Paul Inchauspe is set to compete in the NCAA singles championships from May 20-25, followed by the possibility of competing in the doubles tournament alongside Filippos Astreinidis.
Despite the defeat, the team remains optimistic and resilient, with their sights set on future successes. The dedication and hard work they have shown throughout the season reinforce their potential for future accomplishments.
The men’s tennis team from Princeton University has undoubtedly made an impression in the tournament, and their journey has only just begun.