ORLANDO, Fla. — The Gustavus men’s tennis team ended their season in the NCAA Elite Eight, falling to No. 1 Case Western Reserve University by a score of 5-1. The Gusties finish their season with a record of 26-11.
Case Western jumped to an early lead, as the Spartans picked up 8-2 wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to start the day. Marco Siviero (So., Sao Miguel de Oeste, Brazil) and Sourabh Terakanambi (Sr., Apple Valley) won 8-6 at No. 3 to get the Gusties’ only point. The Spartans won in singles No. 1, 2, and 4 to clinch the victory.
“The guys fought like every kind of lion today,” said Head Coach Tommy Valentini. “We didn’t quite have enough at 1 and 2 doubles, but we stuck with it and competed positively there. Sourabh and Marco were tremendous at 3. They were great tactically and they showed a ton of courage and poise to get us on the board and into the match. In what would be his final match of his career Sourabh showed why he’s a weapon on the doubles court.
“In the singles, coming out down 1-2, we did exactly what this team has been doing all year. We never went away, stayed present and positive, and competed with heart and guts. When Case finally closed us out, we had Daniel, Alex, and Rafa all leading in third sets, and they were all competing with fire and poise, playing excellent tennis. We were right there, but unfortunately we were on the other side of the narrow line between winning and losing today. Hats off to Case. They’re a strong team and will have a good look at going all the way in this event.
“For us, this has been another great opportunity to live out our most important values and to be a team that cares for one another. I couldn’t be more proud to coach this group. Our seniors – 4th and 5th years alike – have given everything to our program. They beautifully represent what it means to wear the three crowns, and they’ve moved our program forward in a myriad of ways. They’ve led tremendously this year and our young guys have grown leaps and bounds and are great Gusties through and through. We are all filled with gratitude.
“We’ll look forward to seeing Nick and Daniel compete in the individuals in a few days, but for now, we’ll cherish what this group has done and be grateful for each other.”
Doubles
Singles
Nick Aney (Sr., Rochester) and Daniel Fouchier (Sr., Nootdorp, Netherlands) will compete in the singles and doubles competition of the NCAA Championships Thursday through Monday in Orlando. Aney is set to participate in the 32-individual singles draw, while the duo of Aney and Fouchier will pair up in the 16-team doubles draw. Singles and doubles draws will be released at the conclusion of the team championships.
Way to put forth full effort with class! Proud of every Gustie and their coaches!
👑👑👑
It had been a privilege to follow the Gustie Tennis Teams this year. Having our two sons and now three grandchildren all participate has given us memorable moments we will cherish forever. The mental image of Nick Aney serving for match point to send us to the National Tournament will be a Gustie Highlight I will never forget. Congratulations to the coaches, players, parents, and fans. Best wishes, Bob Haddorff, Class of 1967.