It was a rather insignificant little match at a Friday practice, one of those things coaches let a team do to have a little fun.This innocent little game was a clash between the upper class and the lower class. Four juniors took on three freshmen and a sophomore in a doubles scrimmage. The first team to 101 wins.
The match went fast -- the freshmen, plus sophomore Mark Milko were up 47-43 at roughly the half way point. But before you knew it, the savvy juniors Doug Stewart, Rylan Rizza, Nick Meythaler and Darrin Cohen had the kids on their toes. At 99-99, the match could've gone either way. Upstart "youth" team, led by Treat Huey and Miklo were ready to do the unthinkable and defeat their elders.
It is through drills like this that the Cavaliers have discovered the nature of their team. The young scrimmage team of five freshmen and a sophomore had two players take the court against the Monarchs last night.As a team, these guys swept Old Dominion, from top to bottom, 7-0.The team's No. 2 player, ranked 22nd in the nation, Somdev Devvarman who is only a freshman, didn't even see any action due to a wrist injury.
Despite the fact that Old Dominion is a lesser tennis rival, the team's performance could only be described as impressive. The team managed to clinch the victory against the Monarchs with the results of the No. 1 and No. 2 matches still up in the air. The subs for Devvarman, Cohen in doubles and Meythaler in singles, went a combined 35-16 last year in dual meet matches. Last night Cohen dominated 6-3, 6-2 and Meythaler went 6-1, 6-1.
The scrimmage game to 101 also showed the leadership that the team lacked last year. This year, the old veterans are taking on mentor roles and coaching the youngsters themselves.
Head coach Brian Boland himself notices the camaraderie growing within the team.
"Some of the things we have going for us has been the chemistry of the team -- the players work together so well, they make each other better every day," Boland said.
It's the subtle things noticeable on and off the tennis court that demonstrates this chemistry. These youngsters for the Cavaliers genuinely look up to the juniors. Of course, they also have to do the dirty work that only freshmen get to do, or are forced to do.
"The freshmen always have to do more," Stewart said. "They always have to pick up more balls, clean up the chairs. It's fun to bully them around sometimes. On the same token, they get to do the same for the next three years."
They can also, as in the case of Huey, play top-quality tennis. In his first dual-meet doubles match of his career, Huey paired up with a new partner, Darrin Cohen to dominate 8-2. In his singles match, he ran off six straight points in the second set to win in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. First, though, he had to lose his preseason jitters.
"He was nervous out there," head coach Brian Boland said. "It's something that doesn't show, but he's nervous.For the most part, it was an impressive match for him. He won handily in both singles and doubles."
How did the scrimmage game end? Did the upstart youngsters pull out the upset? Well, not exactly. The juniors just had a little more of their reputation at stake.Juniors Cohen and Meythaler just wouldn't lose, and placed two balls over the net and just too wide for the novices to return, and kept the freshmen in their place, 101-99.