Men's Tennis
2009 Season Recap
The Clark University men’s tennis team made good on the goal to close the gap this season. Not only did the Cougars post wins over Rhode Island College (7-2) and Emerson College (5-4) after falling to the pair in 2008, but they also gained a combined four additional points in matches against Springfield College and Bridgewater State College. Clark also swept Anna Maria College and bested Gordon College to earn a 4-8 overall mark.
Seniors Ben Gross, Rocco Li and Socheata Ly claimed four wins apiece to lead the team. Gross and partner Aaron Chin nabbed a NEWMAC Doubles Player of the Week award early this spring, while Ly, after starting the year at 2-0, became Clark's first men's tennis player in five years to receive a conference singles player of the week honor. Ly, who finished 4-4, took home the team’s Nicol Sportsmanship Award, presented to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the characteristics of Dr. Theodore Nicol '26.
Gross and sophomores Jason Lui and Matt Finley represented Clark men’s tennis on the NEWMAC All-Academic team. It was the trio’s first appearance on the All-Academic squad.
2009 Season Preview
Returning to the court with eight letter-winners and five seniors, the Clark University men’s tennis team has every reason to believe they have turned the corner as a program. Now they are ready to prove it.
“The team has done a nice job of showing a strong commitment and a desire to improve,” said head coach Mickey Cahoon. “Ultimately, our success will be based on how far we’ve come in terms of closing the gap on teams that beat us last year.”
In addition to returning everyone from last year’s 4-10 squad, the Cougars should also benefit from complementing the roster with six newcomers.
“With everyone back it has allowed us to strengthen the program and for them to get to know me and vice versa,” said Cahoon, now in his second season at the helm of the men’s tennis team. “The new players have helped to create more competition within practice and establish stronger camaraderie. We’re a much different team than we were when I took over the program, and that’s a credit to the work the players have put in.”
Headlining the group of returnees is senior tri-captains Adam Bisceglia, Ben Gross and Rocci Li. Bisceglia returns as the No. 1 singles player after posting a team second-best six wins last season, while Gross and Li are back to make marks at the No. 2 and 3 slots, respectively. All three players are four-year members of the team.
Senior Socheata Ly, who led the Cougars with a 7-5 singles mark last year, is expected to play a significant role again this season. After a solid freshman campaign, sophomore Aaron Chin will move up in the lineup to the fourth slot, while sophomore Nathan Maltais, the team’s Most Improved Player, and junior Rob Schmidt, a newcomer to the program, will round out the singles group at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
In doubles play, the Cougars will utilize their newfound depth to mix up the lineups depending on match situations. Bisceglia and Li are expected to pair up as the team’s top doubles tandem, but Li and Ly may also see time on the court together. Tying for the lead for most doubles victories in 2008, sophomore Matt Finley and Gross will factor in doubles-play again this year. Sophomore newcomer Marcus Abramson will add size and a big serve to the lineup.
Senior Tridib Choudhury, sophomore Jason Lui and freshmen Noah Callahan, Sergio Tarraf-Filho, and Richard Segal will also be in contention for playing time.
While Cahoon concedes that it might take some time for the Cougars to join the elite of the conference, he feels they are making steady improvements along the way.
“The biggest change has been the leadership of the seniors and their desire to want to become more competitive,” Cahoon said. “We have an uphill battle, but our goal is to show that we are moving in the direction of becoming stronger tennis players and hopefully, this year, making a statement with our play to show that we are striving to get into that group.”
For more information about Clark University Men's Tennis, please contact head coach
Mickey Cahoon at (508) 793-7260 or by email at mCahoon@clarku.edu
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Additional Resources
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| Recent Results |
| Apr 23 |
at #3 Wheaton
NEWMAC Quarterfinals
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L 0-5
Recap
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| Apr 21 |
vs Anna Maria
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Cancelled
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| Apr 18 |
at MIT*
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L 0-9
Recap
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| Upcoming Schedule | Full Schedule |
| Mar 23 |
at Albertus Magnus
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TBA
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| Mar 25 |
at Rhode Island
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3:30 PM
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| Mar 27 |
vs Coast Guard*
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12:00 PM
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