Williams College Men's Tennis Spring Season Outlook
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Seven of the nation's top-ranked teams play in NESCAC with the Ephs.
"We needed to get physically stronger from last year and the team has accomplished that, and now we’ve really focused on becoming mentally stronger," said Donn. "That last piece comes from competing."
Donn's Ephs have practiced the last five days outside on campus, a rarity before the annual two-week trip to warmer climates. "We are blessed to have a deep team and that will make for a healthy, competitive environment trying to make the starting lineup, depending on how things shape up over the course of the season we could have six of nine spots differing from last year."Doubles play last season was not a consistent strength for the Ephs who finished up at 17-4 and made their 12th consecutive trip to at least the NCAA Quarterfinals and is a point of focus this spring for Donn. "With doubles now counting for one point each, it will always be a point of emphasis for us and we have certainly improved in that regard," notes Donn. "I've seen the progress we've made and am happy with where we are at this point. It simply now comes down to the doubles teams needing to execute, play with confidence and trust one another."
"This season we want to meet our challenges head on and not shy away from the pressure moments," says Donn.
After posting a 2-0 fall record the Ephs will open the spring portion of their schedule on March 24th against seventh-ranked Gustavus Adolphus at Claremont, CA.
Gone are the days when teams could head west or south and experiment with lineups and tinker with pairings in preparation for the end of the season. With the overall competitiveness of Division III tennis and the chance to line up against nationally ranked opponents every match is important for post-season considerations.
Junior Nick Lebedoff will open the season at number one singles and pair up with first year Will Petrie to form the number two doubles team. "He's a gamer," says Donn of Lebedoff. "He's the kind of kid you want to have on the court in a big match. He's proven that he will do whatever it takes to be successful." Lebedoff played number two singles last season and posted a 16-7 record.
Junior lefty Jeremy Weinberger will play at number two singles and at third doubles with first year Kevin Shallcross. "Jeremy had a very good fall season and it was nice to see him develop his talent into results," states Donn. "He has improved his mental game without losing his fiery competitiveness." Weinberger played at number four singles a year ago and compiled a 24-3 record, wining 11 of his last 12 spring matches.
Slated to open the season at third singles is senior Rick Devlin who had a glittering 22-2 record a year ago and closed out the season with a 14-match win streak, playing primarily at number six. Devlin is a three-year starter in singles play. "Rick has improved a great deal in my two years and I expect it to show this spring."
At four singles will be first year Will Petrie. "Will has a style of play that will allow him to be successful when he is in the lineup – wherever he is."Kevin Shallcross will play at number five singles after posting an overall record of 6-2 this fall. "Kevin's a fiery competitor who had some strong wins this fall and is off to a great start this spring."
Six singles will be manned by senior Karol Furmaga. Furmaga will be making his third straight appearance in the Eph top six. “We will certainly look to Karol as a key part of our singles lineup.” Last season Furmaga was 16-8 playing at number five.
The number one Eph doubles tandem will consist of senior Bret Thacher and first year Dicken Chaplin. This will be the third year that Thacher has played at number one doubles for the Ephs. Chaplin was sidelined the entire fall season with an injury, but is healthy now and working back into form. “There is a lot of talent with this doubles team. Bret has been an anchor and irreplaceable part of our doubles and Dicken certainly has the game to compete at a high level.”
Sophomore Ari Binder will push for time in both the singles and doubles lineup this season. "There is no shot that Ari cannot hit," states Donn. "He's matured and progressed and will give us depth."
There will be plenty of checkpoints along the way this season with the spring break trip, Little Three, NESCAC and trying to extend the string of consecutive years of advancing at least to the NCAA Quarterfinals to 13. "We're hungry and excited and I know it will translate into our play," says Donn. "We will be a team which will make you earn every point."
Williams College Women's Golf Spring Season Outlook
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Eph second year co-head coach Fran Vandermeer knows she will have four players on hand who have played in the NCAA Championships in their career and she is hoping to get even more support as the year goes on. Vandermeer returns two players who have earned All-Region honors in the past in senior Melissa Barton and junior Anne O'Leary. Kait O’Brien and Kristin Nottebohm also have NCAA experience for the Ephs.
Vandermeer calls Barton, a senior captain, "a thoughtful leader who is a
wonderful ambassador for our program." Barton was an All-Region selection in 2007, has played in two NCAA Championships and had the top fall stroke average for the Ephs, 82.11. "Melissa is so steady mentally- she just does not let a wayward swing or a missed putt turn into a string of errors," says Vandermeer. "She keeps the ball in play and her strong short game helps her to score." In the fall Barton carded the top round by a Division III player at the Dartmouth Invitational when she posted a 77. She was either the top performer or second best scorer for the Ephs in all four events in the fall.Anne O'Leary, a junior, is a two-time All-Region honoree (2007 & 2008) who has also played in two NCAA Championships. O'Leary had the second best fall stroke average for the Ephs with an 84.00 and in two fall events was the Ephs' second best scorer. "Anne might be our best player around the greens," comments Vandermeer. "She's our best bunker player and she has an excellent chipping and putting game."
First year Kristen Tubbs was the third most consistent performer for the Ephs in the fall posting a stroke average of 84.29. Finishing third in her first two collegiate events Tubbs closed out the fall campaign by being the top Eph scorer in the final two events.
Junior Kait O'Brien was limited to just one event in the fall campaign due to an injury, but she competed for the Ephs at the 2008 NCAA Championships, she made it through the women's ice hockey season unscathed and appears ready to be a significant contributor this spring. "Kait is one of our longest hitters and she also has a strong short game," notes Vandermeer. "She has a wealth of junior and collegiate golf experience."
Junior Kristin Nottebohm posted the fifth best fall stroke average for the Ephs (89.00). According to Vandermeer, “Kristin is a consistent performer for us and her easy-going demeanor helps her to keep her poise on the golf course.”
A trio of sophomores, Lauren Anstey, Dale Markey, and Aimee Weber, has tournament experience for the Ephs. Sophomore Rebecca Sullivan and first years Elizabeth Lee and Grace Gordon round out the spring roster.Vandermeer is also optimistic that with local PGA teaching pro Josh Hillman working as the team’s swing coach, the Ephs will have a valuable resource to turn to when they are working on their game. "Josh is a terrific teacher and he relates well to the players,” notes Vandermeer.
Team goals for this spring include earning a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships, which would give Williams three appearances in their brief five year tenure as a varsity sport. Williams finished eighth at the 2008 NCAA Championships.
The Ephs open their spring season with Middlebury on March 25th during the Florida trip. The northern portion of the schedule will begin on April 18th when they head to the Pioneer Valley to compete in the Jack Leaman Invitational at Hickory Ridge Golf Club and the Orchards.
