Columbia University
MANHATTAN
Columbia Men's Netters Defeat Manhattan Neighbors, 5-2
2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Columbia was forced to rally after losing its top two singles matches and going to three sets at No. 3 singles, but third singles player Marty Moore and three of his teammates were victorious in lifting Columbia to a 5-2 win over the Jaspers.
Manhattan, located just 30 blocks up Broadway from the Dick Savitt Tennis Center, practices and plays many of its matches at the Columbia facility, thereby negating the Lions' home court advantage.
It didn't seem to affect the outcome of the three doubles matches, which Columbia won relatively easily to claim the doubles point. But singles was another story.
The Jaspers' Mihai Nichifor defeated junior Mark Clemente at first singles, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, and Peter Czink won at No. 2, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 over junior Jared Drucker. When Marty Moore lost the first set to Zoltan Bus, 6-3, Columbia's hopes sagged.
"I was pretty surprised we lost one and two singles," head coach Bid Goswami admitted, but noted that "they were close matches, they could have gone either way."
Just witness Moore's clash with Bus. From his one-set disadvantage, the Lion senior co-captain fought back for consecutive 6-2 wins, and the victory. His singles mates followed his lead, all in straight sets, though.
Senior Paul Ratchford beat Diego Alvarado, 7-5, 7-6 at No. 3; first-year Justin Chow topped Filip Szymik at No. 4, 6-3, 7-6; and co-captain Michael Accordino beat David Alvarado at No. 6, 6-4, 6-2.
The Lions had roared through the doubles matches. Moore and Ratchford won, 8-2; Drucker and Chow had an 8-4 win; and Jon Chan teamed with Tulane transfer Magdy El Mihdawy for an 8-5 victory.
Columbia is host to another Big Apple team next Friday afternoon when it meets St. John's at the Savitt Center.
COLUMBIA 5, MANHATTAN 2
Friday, February 16, 2007
Dick Savitt Tennis Center, New York, N.Y.
Doubles
1. Marty Moore-Paul Ratchford, Columbia, def. Mihai Nichifor-Peter Czink, 8-2
2. Jared Drucker-Justin Chow, Columbia, def. Zoltan Bus-Filip Szymik, 8-4
3. Jon Chan-Magdy El Mihdawy, Columbia, def. Diego and David Alvarado, 8-5
Columbia wins the doubles point
Singles
1. Nichifor, Manhattan, def. Mark Clemente, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4
2. Czink, Manhattan, def. Drucker, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
3. Moore, Columbia, def. Bus, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. Ratchford, Columbia, def. Diego Alvarado,. 7-5, 7-6
5. Chow, Columbia, def. Szymik, 6-3, 7-6
6. Michael Accordino, Columbia, def. David Alvarado, 6-4, 6-2
Players Mentioned
