NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Fairfield University men's tennis team wrapped up a busy opening weekend of dual match action on Sunday in New York City playing a pair of matches versus the number 11 ranked team in the nation, the Columbia University Lions, at the Philip and Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center. The hosts topped the Stags by identical 7-0 scores in each outing. Columbia moves to 3-0 in the early season; while Fairfield is now 0-3 as the calendar flips to February on Thursday.
Sunday's doubleheader gave head coach Jeff Bricker ample opportunity to use a number of players against top-notch competition as 11 different Stags saw action in the two matches.
In Sunday's opener, junior Sam Hodges played number one singles for the visitors taking on Columbia's Michael Zheng, the number 24 ranked player in the nation. Hodges, last week's MAAC Men's Tennis Player of the Week, played well before falling, 4-6, 2-6.
In the nightcap, graduate student Thomas Smart played in the number one spot for the Stags and was defeated by Alex Kotzen, 3-6, 2-6.
"It was a good experience to play Columbia and see the level of a top team in the country. Hopefully the guys learned a few things and can use it going forward," stated Bricker.
The Fairfield men's tennis team returns to action on Friday, February 2 when the Stags head to Providence, Rhode Island to take on the Bears of Brown University. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
