Men's Tennis Edges Binghamton to Set Program Record for Wins to Start the Season
The NJIT men's tennis team edged visiting Binghamton 4-3 on Sunday at the Naimoli Tennis Center to improve to 6-0 in 2023, which is the best mark to begin a season in program history.
The Highlanders swept doubles play to go ahead 1-0 and split the singles matches to earn the one-point victory, their tightest win of the season.
"For the first time this season, I can say it was a great team effort," said second-year Head Coach Marco Matteucci. "We had some guys that were a little banged up that came in and held their spot even if they didn't win."
Sunday's match was tied 3-3 and came down to #6 singles where Ashwin Kanetkar rolled to a 6-2, 6-3 victory to clinch the victory for his team.
NJIT's other singles winners were Pablo Perez Ramos, who won comfortably (6-3, 6-0) at #1 singles and Wil Jenkins, who was victorious 6-1, 6-4 at the #5 position.
Jenkins and Perez Ramos each improved to 6-0 this season in singles play, while Kanetkar also remained perfect through four singles matches.
Nejc Skorjanc and Amine El Kholti picked up a 6-0 win to get things started in doubles at #3 and NJIT clinched the doubles point when Perez Ramos and Josh Smith won 6-3 at the #1 slot. Samuel Townes and Jenkins won 7-6 at #2 to complete the doubles sweep.
"We played great doubles across the board and the bottom of the lineup with Wil and Ashwin took care of the rest," added Matteucci. "They, along with Pablo, really helped close this out when we needed it. It was a great to be pushed and get a win, these experiences make champions!."
The Highlanders look to continue their hot start to the season Feb. 18 when they host Drexel back at the Naimoli Tennis Center. First serve is slated for 11 a.m.
COMPLETE RESULTS
NJIT 4, Binghamton 3
2/12/2023 at Newark, NJ (Naimoli Tennis Center)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Pablo Perez Ramos (NJIT) def. Michael Pawlowicz (BING) 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2. William Binnie Morai (BING) def. Nejc Skorjanc (NJIT) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 |
| 3. Ronin Lotlikar (BING) def. Amine El Kholti (NJIT) 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 |
| 4. Kyle Weekes (BING) def. Josh Smith (NJIT) 6-4, 4-2 (ret.) |
| 5. Wil Jenkins (NJIT) def. James McPherson (BING) 6-1, 6-4 |
| 6. Ashwin Kanetkar (NJIT) def. Omar Zubin (BING) 6-2, 6-3 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Pablo Perez Ramos/Josh Smith (NJIT) def. James McPherson/Michael Pawlowicz (BING) 6-3 |
| 2. Wil Jenkins/Samuel Townes (NJIT) def. William Binnie Morai/Andrew Fang (BING) 7-6(7-2) |
| 3. Amine El Kholti/Nejc Skorjanc (NJIT) def. Ronin Lotlikar/Kyle Weekes (BING) 6-0 |
| Match Notes |
| Binghamton 1-9 |
| NJIT 6-0 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,4,5,3,2,6) |