Tennis
Rumancik Named All-Conference
STLCOP Closes Tennis Season
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Brad Rumancik |
Second-year tennis player Brad Rumancik became STLCOP's first-ever tennis player to be named to the KIAC All-Conference team at the conference tournament on Friday, April 26. To earn the award, Rumancik finished 4-2 at number-four/five singles in the conference. He won five of his last six matches, including a victory over conference
champion Asbury University's undefeated Stephen Woods to end regular season play.
The Eutectics were ranked fifth of seven teams going into the conference tournament at New Albany, Ind. The Euts were knocked out by fourth-ranked Indiana University Southeast in the first round, losing 5-0. STLCOP finished the season with a 6-12 record, taking fifth place in the KIAC (2-4).
Euts Drop Final Match to Conference Champs Asbury
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Brad Rumancik won court-four singles against Asbury. |
The Eutectic men's tennis team lost its final match of the season in St. Louis to Asbury University on Saturday, April 20. The 8-1 Asbury victory secured the KIAC title for the Eagles for the second-straight year. The Eutectics fought hard, but could only come up with three total games in doubles against the strong Eagle team. The only win for the Euts came at number-four singles by second-year Brad Rumancik. Rumancik, who normally plays court-five singles for the Euts, took Asbury's Stephen Woods to a third set tie-breaker, clinching a 7-6, 3-6, 1-0 victory over Woods, who was previously undefeated in conference play. Rumancik finished 4-2 in the conference and won five of his last six matches to end regular season play.
The Eutectics are heading into the conference tournament with a 2-4 record
in the KIAC. Ranked fifth of seven teams, STLCOP will play fourth-ranked Indiana University Southeast in the first round on Friday, April 26, at 9 a.m. in New Albany, Ind.
Eutectics Fall to Indiana KIAC Teams
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Brad Rumancik had singles and doubles wins for the Euts in Indiana. |
The Eutectic men's tennis team competed in Indiana on Saturday April 13, and Sunday, April 14, losing two matches and collecting one win via forfeit from Alice Lloyd College.
On Saturday, the Euts lost to Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Ind., 8-1. After losing all three doubles matches, the Euts' only point came from first-year Michael Kim at number-three singles, who won in a third-set tie breaker to win his match, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (9). The match against Alice Lloyd was scheduled to take place after the IUS match, but was forfeited by the Eagles.
The Eutectic doubles teams pulled the Euts out ahead during Sunday's match against Indiana University East in Richmond, Ind. STLCOP's second- and third-court doubles teams posted wins for the Euts, putting the team ahead 2-1 going into singles. Fourth-year Alex Cline and second-year Brad Rumancik breezed to an 8-3 win at second doubles, while fourth-year Matt Respicio and first-year Andy Sickley teamed up at third doubles for an 8-5 win. Of the six
singles courts, however, despite close matches by Cline at court one (7-5, 6-3) and fifth-year Mitch Gardner at court six (6-1, 7-6 (9)) , Rumancik was the only Eutectic to come away with a win. He won in a third-set tie breaker (4-6, 6-3,
1-0 (4)). The Euts took a 6-3 loss to the Red Wolves.
The Euts are now 6-10 for the season, with one match left on the regular season schedule. Up next, STLCOP hosts Asbury University for the final conference match on Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m., in Shaw Park in Clayton.
Eutectics Defeat Preachers
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Matt Respicio (pictured) paired with Andy Sickley to win |
The Eutectic men's tennis team defeated the Concordia Seminary Preachers at
Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park on Friday, April 5. After STLCOP doubles wins from Alex Cline and Brad Rumancik on court two and Matt Respicio and Andy Sickley on court three, the Euts headed into singles with a 2-1 lead.
After two sets of singles, things did not look good for the Eutectics. The Preachers had picked up three more wins while the other three courts had split and would go to third-set tie breakers. STLCOP's Michael Kim, Brad Rumancik, and Mitch Gardner (playing third, fifth, and sixth singles, respectively) all responded to the pressure, however, and won their tie breaks to clinch the match for the Eutectics, 5-4.
The Euts are now 5-8 for the season. This weekend, the team will travel to Indiana to play three conference matches versus Indiana University Southeast, Alice Lloyd College, and Indiana University East.
Men's Tennis Collects Two Wins, One Loss After Spring Break
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Brad Rumancik had wins at singles and doubles last weekend in Forest Park. |
After returning from a spring break trip to Hilton Head, S.C., the Eutectic men's tennis team had to weather the cold to play outdoor matches in the Midwest. On Saturday, March 23, the Euts suffered a tough conference loss to Brescia University, 9-0, in Owensboro, Ky. The following weekend, the Euts scored two victories in St. Louis against KIAC member Berea College, 6-3, and non-conference member Kaskaskia College, 5-1. Eight individual STLCOP players collected wins in doubles and singles at the doubleheader at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park.
The Eutectics are now 4-8 for the spring season. They will play the Concordia Seminary men's team at Concordia this Friday, April 5, in a recent addition to their spring schedule.
Tennis Teams Spend Spring Break at Hilton Head Island
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The Eutectic men's and women's tennis teams toured Charleston, S.C., between tennis matches during their spring break trip. Photo courtesy of Samantha Nguyen |
The Eutectic men's and women's tennis teams spent spring break together on the beaches and tennis courts of Hilton Head, S.C. The teams spent 26 hours bonding together in vans traveling to and from the island to enjoy perfect tennis weather and beautiful beaches. During
their stay, the Euts played their first outdoor matches of the season against five collegiate teams from around the country, including Trine University in Indiana, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Erskine College in South Carolina, York College in Pennsylvania, and Northwestern College in Minnesota.
Third-year player Matt Respicio said everyone enjoyed the trip. "Playing at that level of competition was great because it brought out the best in everybody," he said. "It was a good time. We bonded a lot."
Head coach Caleb Barnes concurred. "The players got a lot closer as a team," Barnes said. "We got to see a lot of good competition and we definitely improved our level of play and our ability to compete at the college level." Barnes hopes to make the spring break trip to Hilton Head an annual event.
The Eutectic men's tennis team will next compete at Brescia University in Kentucky on Sat., March 23 at 10 a.m. for the first conference match of the season.
Eutectics Record Two Victories
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Alex Cline had two wins at No. 1 singles on Friday. |
The Eutectic men's tennis team won two matches on Friday, Feb. 22 at St. Clair Tennis Center in O'Fallon, Ill. In the first match of the double header, STLCOP defeated the Kaskaskia College Blue Angels, 6-1. The Euts then added a second win over Fontbonne University, 5-1. Head coach Caleb Barnes was proud of the team victories and was especially pleased with the first-year players' success. Rookies Michael Kim, Andy Sickley, and Mengjing Chen each picked up their first singles wins at the collegiate level.
The Eutectic men's team is now 2-2 for the season. A spring break trip to Hilton Head, S.C., is next on the schedule for the Eutectics as the men's and women's tennis teams will compete in five matches there between March 4 and 8.
Men’s Tennis Season Begins
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Mitch Gardner had a win at number-six singles for the Euts in Indiana. |
Barnes’ expectation for the Eutectics is to get in the top four of the conference. STLCOP was fifth of six teams in the KIAC last year and Barnes has said he hopes to see the team grow together and become even more competitive. “I think last year we really learned how to play collegiate tennis as a team,” said Barnes. “It’s now getting more focused on the fact that we can win.”
According to Barnes, the strength of the team lies in their camaraderie. “They all get along so well and respect each other. I think that we should be a team that really cheers for each other and makes some noise in a sport that is typically quiet,” Barnes said. “That is what college tennis is all about – really supporting each other and making an individual game into a team sport.”
On Saturday, Feb. 16, the team competed in the first match of the season against Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at an indoor facility in Terre Haute, Ind. The Euts struggled against a strong Rose-Hulman team, taking an 8-1 loss. Second-year Brad Rumancik had the only win for the Euts at number-five singles, winning 7-5, 6-3. Remaining in Terre Haute for another day, the Euts took on NCAA Division III Franklin College on Sunday, Feb. 17. The individual scores showed very close matches across the courts, but the Euts finished with another 8-1 loss in the end. Fifth-year student-athlete Mitch Gardner claimed the only Eutectic win at number-six singles, 7-6, 6-1.
Up next, the STLCOP men’s team will play Kaskaskia College and Fontbonne University indoors on Friday, Feb. 22 at St. Clair Tennis Center in O’Fallon, Ill.
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Callie Hogancamp and Amanda Empson won at third doubles. |
Lady Euts Finish Fifth in KIAC
The women’s tennis season came to a close on Friday, Oct. 20 as the team lost a close match, 3-5, to Indiana University East in the first round of the KIAC tournament in Richmond, Ind.
At doubles, the Euts picked up one win from Amanda Empson and Callie Hogancamp at third court, 8-5, so the Euts headed into singles down 1-2. Hogancamp and Anna Karasiewicz each came up with singles wins for the Eutectics at fifth and third courts (6-2, 6-2 for Hogancamp and 6-3, 6-3 for Karasiewicz), but the Red Wolves won their fifth court to clinch the match before Empson, who was up a set on her sixth court singles match, was able to finish.
The Eutectics finished the season in fifth place in the KIAC with a 4-4 record.
Women's Tennis Team Heads to KIAC Tournament
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Fourth-year Alexis Abadie prepares to return serve at No. 1 singles. |
On Friday, Oct. 19, the Eutectic women's tennis team hosted Brescia University in a battle for fourth place in the KIAC. Unfortunately, the Lady Euts ended the day on the losing end of the battle, falling 2-7 to the Bearcats and finishing fifth in regular-season conference play. The two Eutectic wins came from first-year Anna Karasiewicz and second-year Samantha Nguyen at No. 3 and No. 5 singles.
On Friday, Oct. 26, the Eutectics will travel to Indiana University East in Richmond, Ind., for the first round of the KIAC tournament. They take on fourth-place Indiana East on the Red Wolves' home turf at 1 p.m. If they can clinch the win, the Euts will then move on to face top-ranked and undefeated Indiana University Southeast at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Lady Euts Struggle Against Indiana Teams
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First-year Anna Karasiewicz had the |
It was a tough weekend for the Eutectic women’s tennis team. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the Euts hosted KIAC top-ranked and undefeated Indiana University Southeast at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park. Even though they were unable to win a court against the Grenadiers, head coach Caleb Barnes was pleased with the solid play by all three of the Eutectic doubles teams, who each took four games from the Grenadiers (4-8 at No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 doubles). In singles, however, the Grenadiers proved too much, plowing over the Euts in straight sets.
On Sunday, Oct. 14, third-ranked Indiana University East defeated the Euts on their home turf, 1-8. High winds made it difficult fo the Eutectics to find their groove against the Red Wolves' lobbing style. First-year Anna Karasiewicz had the only win for the Eutectics. After losing the first set at No. 3 singles 3-6, she turned the tables on IUE's Emily Underwood and won the second set 6-2 before finishing it off with a 10-6 third-set tiebreaker.
The Eutectics are currently in fourth-place in the KIAC with a 4-3 record. They hope to hold onto that ranking after their final regular season match on Saturday, Oct. 20, when they host Brescia University in Forest Park.
Women's Tennis Team Goes 2-1 Against KIAC Teams
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Samantha Nguyen had a win at singles for the Euts. |
The STLCOP women's tennis team traveled to Kentucky and picked up two more wins, and suffered its first loss of the season, on the weekend of Sept. 29-30. First on the schedule was a stop in Wilmore, Ky. on Saturday to take on top-ranked Asbury University. First-year Anna Karasiewicz claimed a decisive victory at number-three singles (6-0, 6-0), but was the only Eutectic to pull out a win against the Eagles. Asbury won the other eight courts to put a stop to the Euts' undefeated season. Later that afternoon, however, the Eutectics rolled over Alice Lloyd College on the Asbury courts without dropping a single set.
On Sunday, the Euts took on Berea College at the Moutaineers' home courts. After winning five of six singles courts, the Eutectics knew they had won the match even before the doubles teams went on court. STLCOP's third-doubles team of Amanda Empson and Calli Hogancamp added another win to the Eutectic total to make the final team score 6-3.
The Eutectics are now 4-1 on the season and currently ranked third in the KIAC. After fall break, the team will host its last three regular season matches at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park. Next up, the Euts host the KIAC Indiana teams with Indiana University-Southeast on Saturday, Oct. 13 and Indiana-East on Sunday, Oct. 14.
Eutectic Tennis Players Compete Well in STLCOP Tournament
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Amanda Empson prepares to serve at the STLCOP Invitational. |
The Eutectic tennis program hosted the STLCOP Invitational tennis tournament on Sept. 22 and 23 at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park. Five teams entered athletes to compete in the individual men's and women's divisions, including Maryville University, Lindenwood University-Belleville, Concordia Seminary (men's only), Principia College (women's only), and St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
First-year Callie Hogancamp and second-year Amanda Empson blasted through three rounds of the women’s singles B-draw to compete against each other in the finals. Hogancamp won the championship title in a tightly contested
match, 6-2, 6-4. First-year Mengjing Chen played in the championship match of the men’s singles C-draw, while third-year Alex Cline made it to the finals of the men’s doubles B-draw, playing with a Lindenwood-Belleville partner. Cline also advanced to the third round of his singles draw (men’s A) along with two other Eutectics: first-year Anna Karasiewicz (women’s A) and fourth-year Matt Respicio (men’s B). First-year Andy Sickley won the men’s singles C-draw consolation.
The women’s tennis team will get back on the road this weekend as they travel to Wilmore, Ky., for conference matches against Asbury University, Alice Lloyd College, and Berea College on Sept. 29 and 30.
Women's Tennis Wins First Two Matches of the Season
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The 2012 STLCOP Tennis Team poses with Morty. |
Anna Karasiewicz Named KIAC Player of the Week
The women’s tennis team won the first two matches of the season on Saturday, Sept. 8, defeating two conference teams on the road in Midway, Ky. After several hours of a rain delay, the Euts came out swinging, taking down Midway College 6-3 in the first part of the doubleheader. STLCOP won two of three doubles courts to head into the singles matches in the lead. From there, the Euts pulled out four wins on the singles courts to take home the season-opening victory.
After a 30 minute break, the Euts headed back to the courts to take on KIAC newcomer Carlow University. Despite the minimal rest, the win over Midway had given the Euts confidence and energy, propelling them to their first-ever 9-0 victory in the afternoon.
First-year Anna Karasiewicz was named KIAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week for her performances on Saturday. After losing a hearbreaking court-one doubles match that came down to the final two points in the tie-break,
Karasiewicz was able to fight back at number-three singles after dropping the first set and came back to win her first-ever college match in an epic three-hour battle, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. Then, after only a 30-minute break, she came out and cruised to two big wins (8-2 in doubles and 6-0, 6-1 in singles) against Carlow to help the Euts to a second victory.
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First-year Anna Karasiewicz is KIAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week. |
The Lady Euts will have a few weeks to enjoy their 2-0 record before heading to Wilmore, Ky., on Sept. 29 to take on Asbury University and Alice Lloyd College. On Sept. 22 and 23 most of the squad will participate asindividuals in the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Invitational Tournament at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park.
Let the 2012 Women’s Tennis Season Begin!
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Coaching duo Caleb and Kateryna Barnes will lead the Lady Euts squad this fall. |
After several weeks of pre-season training, the Eutectic women’s tennis team is ready to get the 2012 season
underway. Head coach Caleb Barnes is excited to lead the Lady Eutectic tennis team in its second season of
competition at STLCOP. Barnes will be joined in the coaching ranks this fall by his wife and assistant coach,
Kateryna Barnes, who brings her fitness and conditioning expertise to the team. With three strong newcomers
added to a solid team of returners, Barnes has high hopes for this years' team.
Fourth-year Alexis Abadie and second-year Carmen Stach will be joined by newcomer Anna Karasiewicz to compete for the Euts at the top three spots. Barnes is looking for team leadership from the eldest member of the team, Abadie, and believes her year of experience at the top spot will boost her confidence this season. Stach will likely keep
her position at #2 singles this year, thanks in part to her competitive drive. "She lives for match play," Barnes
said. "You can really get her fired up." He describes newcomer Karasiewicz as a "really hard worker" who "rises to the occasion and steps up when she needs to."
The four, five, and six spots will likely be covered by second-years Georgie Boeckmann and Amanda Empson and newcomer Calli Hogancamp. Boeckmann earned the "Coach's Award" last season for hard work, positive attitude and dedication to the team. "She works really hard for us," Barnes said, "and because she did so well last year, it will be hard for her to step up, but I'm excited to see her do it." Newcomer Hogancamp has already made her fighting spirit evident. "She is super athletic and has more of a competitive drive than anybody on the team," Barnes said. Empson has shown improvement since last season due to her hard work in the off- and pre-seasons and the team will benefit from her efforts this fall.
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Head Coach Caleb Barnes talks with second-year Georgie Boeckmann.
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With all athletes competing hard, the team goal is to finish in the top half of the conference. Last year, the Eutectics finished a respectable fifth of eight teams in the KIAC, and this year a ninth team has been added to
the conference. Barnes sat down with his team during pre-season and, together, they hammered out a plan to reach that goal. A major part of that plan involves maintaining high intensity and team unity. "Everyone needs to give 110% effort or don't show up," Barnes said. "They need to show support for each other on the court and throughout the season." The team will also put more of a focus on doubles, shooting to win at least two of the three doubles courts every match. By doing that, the team will only have to win three (of six) singles matches to secure a win.
The Eutectics' season opener will be at Midway College on September 8. The Lady Euts hosted Midway in last year'sseason opener, losing 4-5, and Midway just inched out the Eutectics in last year's final conference standings. Because it could set the tone for the season, this first match-up against Midway is an important one. But, whatever happens, the STLCOP women's tennis team is ready for a great season of tennis from a great group of athletes.
"We don't recruit studs, but they work their tails off because it's (tennis is) what they want to do," Barnes said.
"We love it. They're a great group."