Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Fall Season Update


Dear Middlebury Tennis Fans,

It is hard to believe we are already three weeks into our fall season.  It seems like just yesterday we were meeting all the players as students were moving in.  Facing a weekend off of tournament action before our Dartmouth – Bates split date, the coaching staff would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been some truly incredible work over the past three weeks. 

To say that each and every member of the Middlebury Men’s team has been putting in some really hard work on the tennis courts would be an understatement.  Today’s practice was typical of the hard work and open mindedness that will no doubt serve this team well going forward.  From top to bottom, the Panthers worked hard to improve their respective games while also truly enjoying their time together this afternoon.

Another exciting aspect of this young season is beginning to take shape as well.   The 2012-13 incoming freshman class could prove to be a truly great recruiting haul.  With potentially four slots to fill, the coaching staff along with the players have been working to lock up at least three players as early decision applicants.

As we move forward we would hope to stay connected with all those who have supported Midd tennis and made it what it is today.  Stay tuned for more updates and thanks to all supporters, alumni, friends, and family of Middlebury Tennis. Go Midd!

Regards,

Coach Hansen and Coach Kent  

Sunday, September 25, 2011

ITA Wrapup

The Middlebury Men's Tennis Team returned home from a successful fall ITA Regional tournament today. A pair of Middlebury Doubles teams qualified for the semifinals but fell short this morning against a pair of Williams teams.

Despite not quite reaching their goal of reaching the finals and ultimately winning the doubles draw, the Panthers are excited with their progress and are definitely looking forward to seeing Williams again at the Dartmouth Invitational.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

ITA Day Two Results

The Middlebury Men's tennis team fought hard with mixed results at day two of the Fall ITA Regional Tournament at Williams College.  Highlighting play was the doubles play of all three teams remaining in the round of 16.  Two of the three teams still alive going into the day survived two rounds of play to advance to the semifinals.  The one seeded team of Brantner Jones and Andrew Lebovitz overcame an early 3-0 deficit en route to a victory.  Also advancing to the semifinals was the team of Alec Parower and Derrick Angle.  The two teams are positioned on opposite ends of the draw and could potentially meet tomorrow in the finals.  The winner of the doubles draw qualify as 2012 Division III All American Doubles Players and advance to the national tournament to be held next month in Alabama.

Despite some very hard fought matches, singles play was not met with the same results as doubles.  Junior Alec Parower, the second seeded singles player in the draw, lost a heartbreaker to Chris Lord of Bowdoin 10-6 in the third set super tiebreaker.  Also falling in the singles play were sophomores Teddy Fitzgibbons and Brantner Jones.  Despite the losses, the Panthers were thrilled with their progress and look forward to a split weekend at Dartmouth and Bates two weeks from now.

Doubles play begins tomorrow morning at 9 am with a pair of Middlebury teams poised for the title. Go Midd!

Friday, September 23, 2011

ITA Results: Day One

After a wet and rainy first day at the Northeast Regional ITA Tournament, the Middlebury Panthers are primed for a deep run into both the singles and doubles draws.  Three singles players advanced to the round of 16.  Included in the trio are junior Alec Parower along with sophomores Teddy Fitzgibbons and Brantner Jones.  All three doubles teams for the Panthers are still alive in the doubles draw.  Doubles play was highlighted by a dominating performance by the number one seeded team of junior Andrew Lebovitz and sophomore Branter Jones.  The pair knocked off a tough opponent from Trinity College 8-3 to advance to the round of 16.

Play begins tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. at Williams College.  Two rounds of doubles will be played followed by singles action.    

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Middlebury Men Gear Up for Fall ITA Event

Senior Derrick Angle
The Middlebury Men's Tennis Team is preparing for the fall ITA regional tournament to be played at Williams College this weekend.  The event boasts some of the top players and colleges in the area. Included in the 56 man singles draw are six Middlebury players.  Coming off a dominating performance in the Middlebury Invitational, junior Alec Parower earned the number two seed in the singles draw.  The doubles team of Brantner Jones and Andrew Lebovitz were named the number one seeded team in the doubles draw.

Play begins Friday, September 23 at 8 am and concludes Sunday afternoon with the championship rounds.  Please click the link below for more information including complete draws for both singles and doubles play.

http://athletics.williams.edu/sports/mten/2011-2012/releases/releases/09-21-2011_Ephs_set_to_host_USTA-ITA_New_England_Regional_Tennis_Championships_this_weekend.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Men's Tennis Dominates Invitational



Junior Alec Parower
The Middlebury men’s tennis team won five of six flights at its own invitational tournament over the weekend. The Panthers boasted six of eight singles finalists and three of four doubles teams appearing in the finals. Middlebury’s Alec Parower defeated his teammate Brantner Jones in the final match of the day, capturing the “A” final, 6-2, 6-1. In the “B” final, Spencer Lunghino was a 6-2, 2-6, 10-7 winner over fellow Panther David Farah. Trinity’s Musyoka Mbithi topped Courtney Mountifield of Middlebury 6-1, 6-3 in the “C” flight, while Bantam David Myers was a 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 winner over Middlebury’s Chris Frost in the “D” final.
In doubles action, Jones and Andrew Lebovitz of Middlebury topped teammates Parower and Derek Angle 9-2 to capture the “A” flight. James Burke and Zach Bruchmiller of Middlebury earned an 8-6 win over Illya Levin and Dan Carpenter of Trinity to capture the “B” flight.

Men's Tennis Team Lends a Hand


The Middlebury Men’s Tennis Team took part in a community service project this past weekend to help with Hurricane Irene recovery efforts.  The team traveled to Stockbridge, an area hit especially hard by the flooding brought on by Hurricane Irene.  Many of the homes in the community experienced several feet of flooding.  Once in Stockbridge, the team spread out in small groups helping homeowners tear out drywall and insulation, take out flooring, and remove mud and debris from the homes.

The experience was one that definitely helped Stockbridge community members on their long road back to normalcy following the hurricane, while also providing the members of the team a unique opportunity to build camaraderie outside the tennis court.      

Hansen Takes Over Reins Of Men's Tennis Program


Middlebury College has named Bob Hansen as the new head coach of the men’s tennis program. Hansen comes to Middlebury from the University of California Santa Cruz, where he has served as the head men’s coach for the past 30 years. Hansen succeeds Rob Barr, who was interim head coach of the Middlebury men’s team for the 2010-2011 season.
“With his success record, Bob Hansen is arguably the best coach in Division III men’s tennis,” said Middlebury College Director of Athletics Erin Quinn. “What is even more important is his teaching skill and his talent for developing players and teams. His coaching philosophy and ability to translate lessons from sports to life off the court will benefit all of us in the athletics department at Middlebury.”
The creator of the UCSC tennis program, Hansen is regarded as one of the top coaches in the country. Hansen led the team to seven NCAA Championships (1989, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2009), appearing in the finals 13 of the last 24 years. Hansen’s players have won 10 NCAA doubles titles and five NCAA singles titles. Under coach Hansen’s direction, the UCSC tennis program produced 117 All-Americans.
“I am beyond thrilled to be joining such an amazing staff of coaches and administrators in an environment that understands and supports the role of athletics in the college setting,” said Hansen. “I am looking forward to the challenges of combining the very best of the culture I developed at UC Santa Cruz with the best of the strong and thriving culture of Middlebury College tennis.”
Hansen has been named the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Coach of the Year four times and in 2000 was honored as the ITA Coach of the Decade for the 1990s. During that time span, his teams were undefeated against Division III opponents in the regular season going with a 73-0 mark. Hansen has served as an executive board member of the ITA as well as its Division III representative. He also served as the chair of the NCAA Division III Tennis Committee as well as a member of the ITA Rules Committee.
As a player, Hansen was Northern California’s Open Player of the Year and was ranked in the top eight for five straight years during the late 1970s. He received an ATP world ranking as well as much valuable coaching experience while playing the international circuit before coming to UC Santa Cruz. He registered wins over many top 100 players including top-10 players Brad Gilbert and Paul McNamee. He won the USTA 40 National Grass Court Championships held in Santa Barbara.
During the summers Hansen directed the NIKE Santa Cruz Tennis Camps where he was a pioneer in the development of the tournament training program for ranked juniors.
Hansen is a 1975 graduate of San Jose State University, where he earned a degree in physical education. He later returned to his alma mater and received a master’s degree in the same subject in 1980.