Each week for the remainder of the spring we will honor the seniors from two NE10 men's tennis programs as our teams of the week for each player's dedication to their program and teammates.
ASSUMPTION
Coach Megan Pirez on her senior class - "As a senior captain, Jameson is a fantastic leader. He is highly respected by both his teammates and the coaching staff. He trains hard year-round, always striving to be better individually and for his teammates. He loves Syracuse sports, all things tie-dyed and being a big brother to little sister, Hope."
Seniors
- Jameson Keppeler – Syracuse, N.Y.
Season Recap
Assumption men's tennis only competed in one match this spring, a 4-3 loss to Berry College, before the season was cancelled. The Greyhounds did compete at the Stonehill Doubles Invitational and ITA Regionals back in September, as well. At the Stonehill Doubles Invitational, Keppeler had the first win of the day for the Greyhounds, teaming up with Brandon Sze to defeat Colby-Sawyer.
FRANKLIN PIERCE
Coach Peter Arsenault on his senior class - "I will always feel indebted to our remarkable seniors who joined a men's tennis program that had not made the Northeast-10 playoffs since 2005. Their strong belief and commitment in our program quickly transformed us into a team that has been regionally ranked and made the Northeast-10 playoffs since their sophomore year. While our transformation and continuous improvement has been a collective effort, it was truly the leadership and dedication of this senior class that set the tone over the past four years.
Even from their very first practices as freshmen, I saw in them an unquenchable thirst for personal and team excellence, and, as result, I knew this program would never be the same as long as they remained a part of it. Being that their freshman year was also my first at Franklin Pierce, it quickly became my goal to cultivate a tennis family that shared their team-first mentality and their relentless dedication toward improvement. Over the next four years, the attitude and work ethic of this senior class became the standard that I would hold all my players accountable to and the benchmark for the type of recruits I would subsequently bring in. Thus, the legacy that this senior class leaves behind is a team of players and coaches who possess the heart and dedication that they modeled and cultivated over the past four years.
To my seniors, as you go off to showcase your greatness toward bigger and better things, I ask you to remember three final things:
1) We love you and you are forever a part of our tennis family
2) Whatever continued success comes to this program, may it also be felt, deep within your hearts, as your own,
3) Always remember that our team successes (both past and future) is a shining example of the immense impact and influence that you have the potential to create in whatever you choose to do in this world."
Seniors
- Yuval Barak – Zicron Ya'akov, Israel
- Matthew Toombs – Pleasanton, Calif.
- Ryan Plummer – Raymond, Me.
Season Recap
The Ravens made the most of a shortened season, playing to a 5-5 record after one match in September, six matches in October and three in the spring. Franklin Pierce was 1-0 in NE10 play after a 6-1 win over Saint Michael's on Feb. 19, one of only three teams in the NE10 to play a league match. Yuval Barak won at No. 1 doubles with teammate Preston Gordon against the Purple Knights. On March 8 against Nichols, Barak won at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles in the team's last match of the spring.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
