Garnet Rally Cut Short at CC Semifinals
BALTIMORE -- The Swarthmore men's tennis fought back from a 4-2 deficit to tie Saturday's Centennial Conference Championship semi-final only to have an injury cut the rally short.
Haverford (10-7) advanced to Sunday’s championship match with a 5-4 win over the Garnet (7-10), bringing a 50-match Swarthmore win-streak to a close. The Fords had not defeated the Garnet since 1956.
Haverford had a two-victory lead with three singles’ matches still undecided. Garnet junior Mark Greenburg (Paradise Valley, Ariz. / Phoenix Country Day) won in straight sets over Hailu Yang at No. 5 by scores of 6-3, 7-6 and then junior JJ England (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. / The Benjamin School) came back from down a set to Evan Stiegel, earning a 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 3, tying the match at 4-4. Stiegel had beaten England in straight sets when the teams met in the regular season finale on Wednesday.
The match decision came down to the battle at No. 4 between Swarthmore freshman Mark Wee (Syossett, N.Y. / Syosset) and the Fords’ Marc Rudolph. Wee beat Rudolph in straight sets on Wednesday by scores of 6-2, 7-5 and took a one-set lead on Sunday, winning 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker). The two continued to match points in the second set, with Rudolph winning 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreak). Wee began to suffer from cramps in his leg and his movement became severely limited. Rudolph cruised through the third set, clinching the match with a 6-0 win in the final set.
Haverford reversed their fortunes from Wednesday’s match, early on in the semi-final by taking a 2-1 lead after doubles’ play.
Swarthmore junior Kevin Shaughnessy (South Kingston, R.I. / South Kingston) continued his impressive play against Centennial opponents’, improving to 9-1 with a quick 6-0, 6-4 win over Stephen Feder at No. 2 singles.