FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S TENNIS BLASTS HERKIMER 9-0 TO WIN 2006 MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

After a season of dramatic, come-from-behind, nail-biting victories the SUNY Cobleskill men’s tennis team unleashed a savage barrage of serves and volleys against Mountain Valley Conference rival Herkimer Community College yesterday in Herkimer, NY, to defeat the host Generals by a score of 9-0. The decisive victory brought the Fighting Tigers their first MVC Championship in the 23 years history of affiliation with the league. The win cemented the year as one of the best turn-around seasons in NJCAA Division III Men’s Tennis as the Fighting Tigers posted a 7-2 overall record with a perfect 4-0 mark against conference opponents after completing the 2005 season with a 0-9 record.

“Going into the match our players knew what was at stake, they knew the history and they decided that they were going to be the first Cobleskill team ever to win a Mountain Valley Conference Championship,” said Fighting Tiger first-year head coach Scott Hill. “They told me that I wasn’t going to have to stand around worrying about the last match to dictate the outcome and they were going to make a statement today. I am very proud of this group of young men and what they have accomplished collectively this season. Hollywood could not have written a better script for my first year as head coach and this team has provided me with one of my most enjoyable experiences in my coaching career. Now we’re headed for the regional tournament this weekend and we’ll see if we can continue to make things happen.”

The Generals conceded the number six singles and number three doubles to the Fighting Tigers by default and with a 2-0 lead in their pocket at the outset there was no containing the Cobleskill pack. Freshman number one singles Steve Weiss, Getzville, NY, Williamson North High School, dominated his match by scores of 6-2 and 6-1 as did freshman second singles Andy Steiner, Perry, NY, Perry High School, by scores of 6-1 and 6-3. Cobleskill also received an impressive win at the number three singles from senior captain Derek Norberg, Middleburgh, NY, Middleburgh High School, who swept his match in straight sets 6-0 and 6-1. Cobleskill also captured the number four singles with freshman Perry Gould, Cortlandt Manor, NY, Hendrick Hudson High School, winning in three sets by scores of 6-2, 6-7 (7-3) and 7-5 and freshman Mike Hooker, Cicero, NY, Cicero-North Syracuse High School, grinding out a victory at the number five singles by scores 6-4, 1-6 and 6-1.    

In doubles action, the Fighting Tiger number one squad of Derek Norberg and Andy Steiner posted a victory by an 8-0 margin and then the Cobleskill second doubles of Perry Gould and freshman Justin Friedman, Bedford, NY, Carmel High School, closed out the contest with an 8-4 win.

The Fighting Tigers will next travel to Hudson, NY, over the weekend to compete in the 2006 NJCAA Region III Championship Tournament hosted by Columbia-Greene Community College on Saturday April 29th and Sunday April 30th.

TIGER NOTES: The Cobleskill women’s tennis program also captured the Mountain Valley Conference title with a perfect 4-0 record giving Cobleskill a perfect mark versus league competition for the first time in program history. For Coach Scott Hill, the league title was his second of the year after leading the Fighting Tiger women’s volleyball program to the league championship this past fall. The Cobleskill program posted a 3-1 record versus teams that qualified for the 2005 NJCAA National Championships this season.