Looking to build on its momentum after defeating league foe Holy Cross in the Patriot League tournament last spring, the men’s tennis team traveled to Ithaca, New York this past weekend for the Cornell Invitational. Teams from eight schools participated in the tournament, including Patriot League rival Lehigh. The absence of graduated senior All-American Martin MacIntyre was felt immediately, as the men’s team struggled to pick up victories in both singles and doubles play.

Seniors Michael Yassky and John Nogueras, who are to expected to contend for the No. 1 Flight A Singles role this upcoming season were both defeated in the first round of singles play and eliminated from the tournament. However, first-year Graydon Klassen and sophomore Sean Spellburg advanced to the second round of singles play. There, Klassen was defeated by Ivan Rummel of Stony Brook in a very closer match, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8. Rummel fell to Jeremy Feldman of Cornell, 6-1, 6-1.

The Raiders continued to struggle in Flight A Doubles as the top two pairs fell in the first round of play. Nogueras was partnered with Klassen for the first time this year, and the chemistry necessary for doubles success was clearly not yet present. The other doubles pairing, of Yassky and first-year Harry Jewett, was new as well.

As this team searches for an identity, Yassky and Nogueras will be influential in determining the fate of the Raiders’ season. The loss of MacIntyre isn’t something that should deter the Raiders from contending for a Patriot League title, despite competing with a roster filled with underclassmen. The Raiders look forward to building on last week’s performance as they head to Brown on September 18 with hopes of building a solid foundation before heading into spring play.