Tribe Men’s Tennis Opens Season With 6-1 Win Over Hawaii

01/10/04 11:30PM

WAIKOLOA, HI - William and Mary’s men’s tennis team opened the 2004 dual match season with a convincing, 6-1, win over Hawaii at the Hilton Waikoloa Resort today. The win gives the Tribe a 1-0 start to the season, while the Rainbow Warriors drop to 0-4 on the year.

W&M took the early lead by winning the doubles point with victories at the second and third positions. At No. 2 doubles, the Tribe’s 45th-ranked team of junior Sean Kelleher (Forty Fort, PA) and sophomore Stephen Ward (Douglaston, NY) defeated Jarrod Diepraam and Bryon Weinberg, 8-6. Juniors Alex Fish (Scituate, MA) and Jeff Kader (Geneva, OH) defeated Derrick Lajola and Jamie Migia, 8-5, at No. 3.

The Tribe continued to play well in singles, winning five of the six matches, including three in straight sets, to seal the win. Kader, ranked 96th in the nation, came from behind to defeat Dalibor Ptak, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3, in the top match, while Ward also pulled out a three-set victory, beating Diepraam at No. 5, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. At No. 3, freshman Steven Kane (Nokomis, FL) took down Weinberg, 6-3, 6-2, while senior Geoff Russell (Phoenix, AZ) cruised past Lajola at No. 4, 6-2, 6-0. Fish completed the win with a 6-4, 7-5 decision over Burke Marold at No. 6.

W&M returns to action on Tuesday, January 13 at San Diego State at 4:30 PM. The Aztecs ended the 2003 season ranked 28th in the nation, while the Tribe finished last year ranked 51st. The first team rankings of the 2004 season will be released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Tuesday.


William and Mary 6, Hawaii 1
Singles
1. #96 Jeff Kader (W&M) d. Dalibor Ptak; 2-6, 7-6, 6-3
2. Ryan Sceats (UH) d. Sean Kelleher; 6-4, 6-3
3. Steven Kane (W&M) d. Bryon Weinberg; 6-3, 6-2
4. Geoff Russell (W&M) d. Derrick Lajola; 6-2, 6-0
5. Stephen Ward (W&M) d. Jarrod Diepraam; 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
6. Alex Fish (W&M) d. Burke Marold; 6-4, 7-5

Doubles
1. Ptak/Sceats (UH) d. Kane/Russell; 9-8 (4)
2. #45 Kelleher/Ward (W&M) d. Diepraam/Weinberg; 8-6
3. Fish/Kader (W&M) d. Lajola/Jamie Migia; 8-5