Hilton Head Island, SC – In an engaging day of matches at the PTR Spring Tennis Fest, the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Men’s Tennis Team encountered challenging opposition at Cornell College. The Seahawks, looking for their first win of the season, could not turn the tide against the experienced Rams, culminating in a 7-2 defeat that moves their season record to 0-3, while Cornell College advances to an impressive 11-4.
During the doubles matches, the Seahawks faced tough competition right from the start. Boris Palmade and Nick Rohr, representing the Seahawks in the first doubles match, were bested 8-4. The second doubles team, Keawe Johnson and Daoud Alkhalidi, also faced defeat with a score of 8-1 against their Cornell College counterparts. However, not all was lost for St. Mary’s College in the doubles competition. The duo of Andrew Hand and Max Esztergomi delivered a strong performance, securing an 8-1 victory and giving the Seahawks a glimmer of hope.
The singles matches further highlighted the competitive spirit of the teams. Boris Palmade stood out for the Seahawks, claiming victory in the number one singles match with an impressive 6-2 sets against his Rams opponent. However, the remainder of the singles matches saw the Seahawks struggling to match the Rams’ intensity. Competing in the number two singles match, Nick Rohr put up a spirited fight but ultimately fell with sets of 7-5 and 6-3. Max Esztergomi and Keawe Johnson also faced setbacks in their respective singles matches.
A particularly dramatic moment came during the number five singles match, where Daoud Alkhalidi showcased resilience by bouncing back in the second set with a 6-1 win, after dropping the first set 6-3. Despite this effort, the tiebreaker did not go in his favor, ending with a 10-5 loss to Cornell College. Devon Gorel, competing in the number six singles, faced a challenging opponent and was defeated in straight sets, 6-1.
Looking forward, the St. Mary’s College Men’s Tennis Team aims to regroup and capture their first win of the season. Their next opportunity will come against Maryville College on March 13, again on the courts of Hilton Head Island, SC. The Seahawks are determined to use the lessons from their tough matches against Cornell College to improve and strive for a victory in their upcoming match.
