NORTH READING, Mass.- Six different players earned wins for Clark (4-10, 2-4 NEWMAC) as they defeated Emerson (4-14, 1-5 NEWMAC) 7-2 to clinch the No. 5 seed in the NEWMAC Playoffs next Wednesday. The match took place at the North Reading High School Tennis Courts.
Doubles
• Due to a lack of healthy players the Lions forfeited No. 3 doubles.
• Senior Max Schweitzer and junior Sam Pomann left no doubt in their abilities with a crisp 8-0 victory at No. 2 doubles.
• At No. 1 doubles junior Dariy Vykhodtsev and sophomore Tanner Honnef went down a break early but recovered using their strong return game to spark confidence. The match went to a tiebreak at 7-7 and the Cougars used a big breakpoint to go up 4-2 to gain momentum. The duo would win three of the final four points for an 8-7(3) win for Clark.
Singles
• Emerson forfeited No. 6 singles to the scarlet and white.
• Pomann clinched the win for Clark with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 4. Pomann won all 20 games he played on the day and marked his 10th total win this season between singles and doubles.
• The Lions got the board with wins at No. 1 and 2 singles. At No. 1 Schweitzer rallied from down a set to put the pressure on Emerson. Despite falling in the third set tiebreak, the senior's determination ability to stage comebacks is a staple of his game. At No. 2 Honnef found success in a 6-3, 6-4 loss, only a few games away from changing the narrative of the match.
• Graduate student Josh Podolsky used his unorthodox style, lobs, and a few well-timed passing shots to capture a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 5 to push Clark's lead to 6-2.
• Hovey was the final man on the court for Clark at No. 3. After winning a 6-4 first set, the first-year nearly had the second, even saving a set point with high jumping acrobatics, before falling 7-6, and 13-11 in the tiebreaker. In the third set tiebreaker, Hovey righted the ship with his deep approach shots to win 10-3.
What's Next
Clark heads to Wheaton on Wednesday for the No. 4 vs. No. 5 NEWMAC Quarterfinals match. That match begins from the Clark Tennis Courts at Wheaton at 4 p.m.
