Tennis team loses heartbreaker in first home outing
Coming off a tough four match road swing the Howard men’s tennis team had their first home match of the season at the Watkins Regional Park Tennis Bubble this past Saturday. The Bison took on the Mountaineers of Mt. Saint Mary University, and the match came down to the very end. Unfortunately it was the Bison who came up short losing by one match with a final score of 4-3.
It was the Mountaineers who got the early start in doubles, taking wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions to capture the doubles point. Howard's No. 1 doubles pair of sophomore Myron Davis and freshman William Jones were able to capture their match in a set tiebreaker, 6-5.
“We’re still working on becoming a better doubles team, and I think that’s where the match was loss,” said head coach Larry Strickland. “We were very competitive in singles, but I think doubles sort of let us down.”
In singles, Davis and Jones continued their momentum, Jones getting the win at No. 1 singles 6-1, 6-2, and Davis securing a victory for Howard at the No. 4 singles position 6-3, 6-1. Freshman Ismael Kaouache was also able to pick up a win at the No. 2 spot with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
I just tried to focus on controlling my nerves and staying focus on my game plan,” Davis said. “I wanted to be positive for me and my teammates.”
Despite the Bison effort, the Mountaineers were able to pick up three victories in singles play at the 3, 5 and 6 positions to take the match. Mt. St. Mary's Mateo DeSomocurcio defeated Howard's Laguna Foster in a thrilling three setter at No. 3 singles, and St. Mary's Darren Mast and Louis Tonon iced the match with straight sets wins over Nile Kendall and Nico Sorrell at the 5 and 6 positions.
Overall, Strickland says he was pleased with his team, comprised of three sophomores and four freshmen and is optimistic about their chances in MEAC play this March.
“I think if we continue to work and progress, we have a very good chance at doing well in our half of the MEAC,” Strickland said. “We’re still a very young team with a lot to learn so it will really all depend on our learning curve.”
Like a lot of Howard athletic teams this year, the tennis team is relying on immediate impact from multiple true freshmen players. Strickland says he was particularly impressed with the play of Jones on Saturday who had an impressive straight set victory at the No. 1 position.
“Will Jones is really starting to mature on the court. I thought he played extremely well,” Strickland said.
The Bison will be back in action this Sunday against the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.