If the USM men’s tennis team had stumbled this year, it would have been understandable. Long time head coach Phil Cole retired this year, leaving the head coaching position vacant. But the Huskies have been anything but dormant, especially last week. The Huskies picked up a pair of victories and played well in losses to Salem State and Western Connecticut.
New coaches, no problems
Replacing Cole are first-year head coach John Parry and assistant Charlie Cianciale. And while new coaches can bring forth periods of poor performance, both Parry and Cianciale have been more than satisfied with their team’s success thus far. Cianciale points to his players’ enthusiasm.
“We’re new young coaches to these guys and I think it has really fired them up. It’s given us a chance to make them work hard and they have risen to the occasion. These are strong kids who have been playing hard for us.”
This positive performance did not go unnoticed by Head coach John Parry either.
“There’s always a lot of unknown about how guys are going to respond to a new coach, but everyone has always been motivated. These kids are thriving in the competitive atmosphere within the team this year.”
The team is led by its captains junior Josh Warren (Hermon) and senior Derek Stevenson (Raymond). Holding position one and two in singles, they are the top performers on the court. They even combine with each other in doubles to form one of the top-ranked tandems in the conference this year.
Cianciale says that the two have “really been putting out their best effort everyday and it works to fire the rest of the team up.”
If proof of this is needed, look no further than the performance of younger teammates Zach Karen (North Conway, NH) and Terry Classen (Brownfield).
Parry has noticed that Karen has “really been out here motivated to work hard and play hard,” remarking that Karen’s motivation and work ethic has been a “pleasant surprise.”
Freshmen Terry Classen has also emerged as a motivated player. He recently won his way into the #6 position through an inspiring intra-squad match.
Week in review
The Huskies knew they’d have their work cut out for them last week, playing in four matches, with one coming against Salem State, the league’s best teams. But, despite new coaches and a young team, the Huskies pulled through the week 2-2, asserting their power against lesser opponents Thomas and Rhode Island College (RIC), and falling in close matches to Salem State and Western Connecticut.
The Huskies routed both RIC and Thomas in decisive 9-0 style. Warren and Stevenson both picked up singles wins and teamed together for a pair of doubles victories, too. In their doubles match at RIC, Stevenson and Warren blanked their opponents 8-0, sending a strong message and setting a serious tone.
In their two losses, the Huskies held close, losing 6-3 in both contests. Against Salem State, Warren and Stevenson picked up a point in first doubles, while junior Steven Lent (Sharon, NH) and Stevenson snagged singles points.
USM’s match against Eastern Connecticut, though similar in results, saw different Huskies pick up wins. On this day, Warren would be the only Husky to pick up a singles point, while his doubles team would lose in the first doubles match. The Huskies picked up second and third doubles matches to make things interesting, but it wasn’t enough.