The men’s tennis team traveled to Massachusetts on Saturday, April 14 to compete against Amherst College. They knew that they would be in for a tough competition, as Amherst men’s tennis is currently ranked number one out of all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III schools. The Mules fell to the defending national champions 8-1 overall.

Amherst showed why they are so highly ranked by winning all six of the singles matches. At the first spot, Tom Kimball ’12 lost to Joey Fritz in two sets, 6-2, 6-2, and at second singles, Jason Ottomano ’14 lost to Chris Dale in two sets as well, 6-3, 6-4. At third singles, Jack Bryant ’14 lost the first set to Eli Mlaver by 6-4, but battled back to win the second 6-3 before losing the final set 6-1. At the fourth spot, Sam Bachelder ’14 lost a close first set to Julian Camacho, 7-5, and then lost the second set 6-3. Matthew Mantikas ’13 won his first set against Surain Asokaraj 6-4, but lost the next two 6-4, 6-2. Finally, Than Moore ’12 took his match to three sets as well, but ultimately lost 6-4, 5-7, 10-5.

Amherst also won two of the three doubles matches, but Colby was able to pull out a win at first doubles. The team of Kimball and Ottomano defeated Mark Kahan and Luis Rattenhuber in a close match, 8-6. This victory gave the Mules some consolation despite being swept in the singles matches. Meanwhile, the team of Mantikas and Bryant lost to Robby Sorrel and Austin Chafetz by a score of 8-5. With the doubles team of Luke Martin ’14 (academic commitment) and Robert Yee ’12 (illness) absent from the trip, Moore and Joe Albano ’12 subbed in at third doubles but lost to Andrew Scheiner and Jon Cypers, 8-1.

It was a tough day for the Mules, but they gained some valuable experience against the best team in the nation, and were even able to upset them at first doubles. The loss brings their record to 6-4 this spring and 1-2 in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) competition. Over the next week, the Mules will have several more chances to prove themselves against NESCAC teams, as they host Bates College on Wednesday, April 18, Hamilton College on Saturday, April 21 and Connecticut College on Sunday, April 22.