"Playing these strong Division I teams was good preparation for our upcoming NESCAC opponents and gives a solid foundation for us to build upon," said Captain Reeve Segal '01.
The team's first match was against St. Bonneventure, where Brian Wexler '02, Brian Chin '03, Adam Leibsohn '03, Andy Tsai '03 and Dave Wellner '02 dominated the singles line-up for a 6-1 victory.
"Although Bonneventure was perhaps the least talented of the three teams, playing them first was good because it upped our confidence going into the second match," explained Leibsohn.
Next, the Jeffs faced off against Binghamton University, now a Division I team. After losing the doubles point, the boys rallied back with strong singles play from Chin, Segal, Tsai and Wellner.
Colgate posed a tough challenge for the weary Amherst team. However, this did not stop the dynamic duo of Segal and Peter Ransmeier '02, who had a spectacular win at number one doubles.
"I've never seen Reeve so focused on a match before," said Leibsohn. "He was a madman out there." Also impressive was the play of Ransmeier, who stepped up to fill the shoes of Segal's former partner, Scott Chase '00.
Chase and Segal were qualifiers in last year's NCAA doubles tournament and according to Wexler, "It looks like Ransmeier and Segal could be headed in the same direction." But the inspiring match was not enough; the team ended up falling to Colgate 6-1.
Coach Peter Robson admitted that there are still some changes that need to be made to maximize the team's potential.
"The guys played a lot of tennis this weekend-maybe too much tennis, but it was an overall good experience."
Next weekend the men's team will venture once again into upstate New York, this time to compete in the ECAC tournament at Vassar College.