The Cabrini men’s tennis team fell to Lebanon Valley College on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Dixon Courts by a score of 9-0.
After losses against Alvernia University and Penn State-Brandywine, the defeat at the hands of Lebanon Valley ended the team’s very brief fall season.
The Cavs have a very talented group of players this season. Throughout the game against the Dutchmen, the Cavs never gave up and encouraged each other during the match.
“The team is looking good,” sophomore John Giovanelli said. “We are hoping to finish first or second in our conference again with our whole starting line-up returning. It should be another good year.”
Giovanelli and the rest of the team are very anxious to get back to playing again in the spring. Come March 21, the Cavs will play seven of their Spring 2012 matches against CSAC opponents.
With their next game not coming until March against the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, they have a lot of time to work together and get used to how each player acts and thinks, both on and off the court.
“This winter there will be a lot of off-season workouts to achieve our goal of winning the CSAC,” freshman Anthony DiCicco said. “We just need to capitalize throughout the match during critical points. If we do that, we will do fine.”
DiCicco is the only freshmen on a team that includes five experienced seniors. With five returning seniors for the spring season, experience seems to favor the Cavs for their remaining games. DiCicco is very excited to train in this upcoming off-season.
Senior Walter Jesuncosky was hopeful when talking about the spring season.
“There is a lot of promise for the spring season,” Jesuncosky said. “We made our goal last year to make the playoffs. This year’s goal is to win it all.”
Things are looking up for the Cavs despite the rough performance this fall season. The team’s three games, none of which were against CSAC opponents, will help the group to improve in time for their 13-game spring season.
“It feels good to be playing on a contending team for the CSAC as a freshman,” DiCicco said. “Everyone on the team has been very nice and accepting of me. I feel like I have been on the team for years with these guys, not just a few weeks.”
Under the direction of tenth-year head coach Rich Aldrete, the Cavs will use the next several months to come out strong in the spring.
