ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Bard College men's tennis team took on the Union Garnet Chargers on Wednesday, opening their season with a Liberty League match.
Four first years made their debuts for a Raptors squad that is brimming with energy.
Nick Oh,
Blake Kendall,
Ivan Borshchev, and
Peter Trimble all stepped in well as newcomers.
Thanasis Kostikas/
Nick Oh earned a game at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2 doubles,
Blake Kendall and
Ivan Borshchev made their mark, winning on Borshchev's serve and breaking once. At No. 3 doubles, the Bard duo of
Peter Trimble and
Ciaran Chamberlain was outlasted by Union.
Kostikas led the team at No. 1 singles, getting in rallies with the Garnet Chargers. Oh took the court at No. 2 singles, where he picked up five games and nearly matched the consistency of Union. At No. 3 singles, Borshchev was the final Raptor on court, gritting it out in a close match. His six games were the most by a Raptor at No. 3 singles against a Liberty League opponent since 2017, when Nicholas George picked up a 6-4 6-2 win.
At No. 4 singles, Kendall got two games – one to go up 1-0 in the second set – mixing up his court positioning. At No. 5 singles, Chamberlain was tasked with a tall order and competed hard. Trimble took the first game of his match, holding his serve, but Union overcame its slow start.
The Raptors head to the USTA National Tennis Center on Sunday at 1 p.m., when they face Pratt.
