Oct. 9, 2011
New York, N.Y. -
The Fordham University men's tennis team ventured into Manhattan this weekend to compete in the Columbia Classic where J.J. Tauil highlighted the weekend by winning the consolation bracket of the "C" singles competition.
Tauil opened the tournament with a loss to Monmouth's Freddy Marcinkowski, winning the first set, 6-2, before dropping the second, 7-5, and the tiebreaker, 10-6. He then came back in the consolation bracket, winning by default over Penn's Kyle Roth and Peter Skvarko before defeating Theo Marin of Columbia. Tauil took the first set, 6-4, but dropped the second, 6-7. He came back to win the match by taking the tiebreaker, 10-6.
"J.J. lost a close first round match, where he was in control and served for the match, so I very happy the way he bounced back in the consolation," said Hubbard. "We talked a lot about how to handle his emotions and stay positive and focused for an entire match. For him to win the consolation bracket and beat a player from Columbia, is a great confidence booster and shows a lot of potential. He definitely improved and took a huge step in his maturity on the court. He was very excited, and said it was one of the best matches and feelings he has had on a tennis court."
In the A singles competition, Srikar Alla fell to fourth-seeded Haig Schneiderman of Columbia in the first round, 6-3 and 6-4, before defeating St. John's Stafan Bojic, 7-5 and 7-5, in the consolation quarterfinals. Penn's Kevin Katz then eliminated Alla with a 6-4, 6-2 win in the consolation semifinals.
"This was a very tough tournament with a lot of the top players in the region, so it was good experience taking four freshman to this event to see the level we are trying to reach, said Fordham head coach Cory Hubbard. "Srikar Alla had a very impressive win, beating Stafan Bojic from St Johns. Bojic is a senior and played #1 for St. John's last year and spent much of the year ranked nationally. He is one of the top 15-20 players in this region. That definitely was a statement win for our program, and shows a bright future for Srikar at Fordham the next four years."
Other Rams competing in singles at the Columbia Classic included Peder Gram, who fell to Fairfield's Dennis Zlobinsky in the firs round of the B singles, 6-2 and 6-1, and was bested by Joe Dube of Marist in the consolation round, 6-1 and 6-2.
Jan Krouham also competed in singles play, falling to Monmouth's Carl Jedlinski Monmouth in the first round, 7-6(5) and 6-3, and then being upended by Theo Marin of Columbia, 6-0 and 6-2.
In doubles play, Alla and Gram defeated Marist's Lorenso Rossi and Will Reznek in the B Doubles quarterfinals, 8-5, before falling to Columbia's Ashok Naryama and Max Schnur in the semifinals, 8-3.
In the C Doubles quarterfinals, Columbia's Cyril Bucher and Tizian Bucher defeated Tauil and Andriy Kulak, 8-3.
"We could have had some more wins in the tournament, but Kuba Kowalksi and Mischa Koran sat out this weekend to rest, study and prepare for next week's ITA Regional," said Hubbard. "Every time on court I want our guys to make a statement and show other programs that Fordham is improving and here to compete, and that's what our freshman did this weekend."
2011 Columbia Classic
A Singles" Main Draw
Haig Schneiderman (4) Columbia def. Srikar Alla 6-3, 6-4
A Singles Consolation Quarterfinals
Srikar Alla def. Stafan Bojic St Johns 7-5, 7-5
A Singles Consolation Semifinals
Kevin Katz Penn def Srikar Alla 6-4, 6-2
B Singles" Main draw
Dennis Zlobinsky Fairfield def Peder Gram 6-2, 6-1
B Singles Consolation
Joe Dube Marist def. Peder Gram 6-1, 6-2
C Singles Main Draw
Freddy Marcinkowski Monmouth def J.J. Tauil 2-6, 7-5, 10-6
Carl Jedlinski Monmouth def Jan Krouham 7-6(5), 6-3
C Consolation Quarterfinals
J.J. Tauil def Kyle Roth Penn w/o
Theo Marin Columbia def Jan Krouham 6-0, 6-2
C Consolation Semifinals
J.J. Tauil def Peter Skvarka FDU w/o
C Consolation Finals
J.J. Tauil def Theo Marin Columbia 6-4, 6-7, 10-6
B Doubles Quarterfinals
Alla/Gram def Lorenso Rossi/Will Reznek Marist 8-5
B Doubles Semifinals
Ashok Naryama/Max Schnur Columbia def Gram/Alla 8-3
C Doubles Quarterfinals
Bucher/Bucher Columbia def Tauil/Kulak 8-3
