COBLESKILL MEN’S TENNIS POSTS 6-3 WIN OVER HOLYOKE IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE

 The SUNY Cobleskill men’s tennis team closed the regular portion of their season on Thursday afternoon traveling to Holyoke, MA to meet the Cougars of Holyoke Community College for an interregional match. When the fur stopped flying it was the Fighting Tigers who emerged from the catfight with a 6-3 victory over the defending Region XXI Champions. Cobleskill closes the year with a 5-3 overall mark heading into this weekend’s NJCAA Region III Division III Championship Tournament scheduled to be hosted by Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY.

“This was just the type of match we needed to establish some momentum heading into the Region III Championships this weekend,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Scott Hill. “Holyoke is a quality program and I think that playing in some difficult matches heading into the tournament will give have us and important boost heading into the post season. This is going to be a very competitive regional given the parity around the region and the important thing for us to do is to play hard in every match. We’ll be counting heavily on our seniors because of their post-season experience and beyond that it’s time to stop talking and start playing.”

Once again the Fighting Tigers dominated play at the top of the line-up as senior NJCAA Region III Champion Steve Weiss, Getzville, NY, Williamson North High School, captured first singles by scores of 6-2 and 7-5 and senior Andy Steiner, Perry, NY, Perry High School, took the second singles by scores of 6-4 and 6-3. The Cobleskill tandem then decisively took their first doubles match by scores of 6-1 and 6-3 from the home team.

Cobleskill sealed the victory behind the efforts of freshman John Hazelton, Greenville, NY, Greenville High School, who battled to a victory at the number three singles slot by scores of  7-6 (7-5) and 6-3 and freshman Greg Klopfer, Voorheesville, NY, Voorheesville High School, who swept through the number four singles by scores of 6-2 and 6-3. Hazelton and Klopfer then punctuated the team’s victory by winning at the second singles by scores of 6-4 and 6-2.

TIGER NOTES: The 2007 NJCAA Region III Division III Championship Tournament is scheduled to be played at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY beginning at 9:00 AM on Saturday April 28th and Sunday April 29th. In the event of inclement weather on either day the event will be moved to the SUNY Cobleskill Tennis Complex with Mohawk Valley retaining hosting duties. Freshman Greg Klopfer will be making his second Region III Championship Tournament appearance this year having been a member of the Fighting Tigers’ NJCAA Region III runners-up men’s soccer team this fall. The is the Fighting Tigers second consecutive regional tournament appearance under the direction of coach Scott Hill.