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Hopkins Holds Court 7--0, Dismissing All Claims by Suffield Academy.

    On Wednesday, April 29th, the Hopkins boys' varsity tennis team played host to visiting Suffield Academy, but our players were anything but hospitable to the attempted forays of Suffield players hoping to advance to the net  position.  Suffield came into the match vs. Hopkins with an overall record of 3--3, having lost their first three matches, but having won their 3 most recent matches.  So Hopkins was not entirely sure of what to expect in a match such as this one, even though Hopkins entered this match with a very strong overall 7--1 record.

    One year ago, Hopkins defeated Suffield Academy in boys varsity tennis 5--2, but losing the doubles point in the process.  Coach Ewen emphasized to his team the importance of getting a head start in the match by using sound doubles stroke execution, such as getting 1st serves in more often (with spin), working on getting all service returns in the back half of  the court, hitting approach shots close to a side line (rather than close to the baseline), poaching on volleys when the opportunity presented itself, etc.  And the team responded by having the #1 doubles team of Nolan Paige and Bobby Berkowitz, #2 doubles team of Jerrod Dobkin and Chris Wright, and the #3 doubles team of 9th graders Alec and Michael Bartimer all win easily.  The Bartimers did particularly well with poaching at opportune times.

    Then the scene shifted to the singles courts.  Jerrod Dobkin at #3 was determined to add aggressive approach shots and volleys to his already strong repotoire of ground strokes and wound up emerging victorious without the loss of a single game to his Suffield opponent.  Then #1 freshman standout Nolan Paige turned up the heat on his hapless foe and also won convincingly.  This put Hopkins in a commanding 3--0 position.  Bobby Berkowitz finished soon after at #2 singles with a 6--0, 6--3 victory, thus clinching the match for Hopkins.  Co-captain Chris Wright then completed Hopkins' dominant matches on court today by dispatching his #5 singles opponent by a 6--0, 6--1 score.

    Though Hopkins had already clinched the match, much attention was still riveted on the two remaining matches still in the process of completion.  At #6 singles, Neal Patel traded topspin forehands with his opponent and eventually recorded the desired victory point for Hopkins, by a hard fought 6--3, 6--3 decision.  Then at #4 singles,

junior Nick Aeppel fought his way back from one set down to overtake his opponent in the second set, and then use his approach shots and volleys to the opposite side of the court to full advantage by winning the tiebreaker 10--3.

    Two singles players and two doubles teams will now represent Hopkins in the Fairchester Athletic Association Tennis Tournament, being held at the Yale University courts beginning this Friday afternoon and extending into Saturday.  Good luck to our Hopkins players -- singles competitors Nolan Paige and Russell Einbinder, and doubles

contestants Jerrod Dobkin & Chris Wright, and Michael and Alec Bartimer.