the lines are still good

Follow the happenings of an animated college tennis coach and his teams in their pursuit of an NCAA National Tennis Championship. It is always the impressive trophy that is displayed for all to admire that gets the attention, but it is the journey to claiming that trophy, the relationships built, the people served and the memories created, that live forever...and what I hope you will find interesting...

Thursday, March 04, 2010

My laptop survives another day...

The Clippers got into the spring trip win column by beating up on #16 Flagler College 8-1 Wednesday. Finally, the good tennis showed itself and the fellas produced results that we have all been expecting. Flagler had been red hot, making a huge jump in the recent NCAA II rankings.

Singles:

1. #6 David Cotrone (FCM) def. #2 GRUBIN, Alex (CNYMT910) 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
2. #3 BOLDAREV, Andrey (CNYMT910) def. Gino Ramirez (FCM) 6-3, 6-0
3. NAMIAS, Raphael (CNYMT910) def. Harry Snoxell (FCM) 6-4, 6-1
4. DOBROTKA, Tamas (CNYMT910) def. Peter Coulis (FCM) 6-2, 6-3
5. MISSAL, Felix (CNYMT910) def. Tim Hansson (FCM) 6-2, 6-3
6. LINDELL, Andreas (CNYMT910) def. Mason Addison (FCM) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles:

1. #1 GRUBIN, Alex/BOLDAREV, Andrey (CNYMT910) def. David Cotrone/Gino Ramirez (FCM) 8-5
2. LINDELL, Andreas/DOBROTKA, Tamas (CNYMT910) def. Harry Snoxell/Tim Hansson (FCM) 8-6
3. NAMIAS, Raphael/MISSAL, Felix (CNYMT910) def. Stephen Coulis/Mason Addison (FCM) 8-3

The Clippers will head down to Daytona Beach, not for spring break but to play Embry Riddle University Thursday, 3/4/10 at 3:30pm. The Clippers have never beaten the Eagles yet hope to end the spring trip on a positive note.

Nuff said...

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Things can only get better...



Well, it was another tough day for the Clippers as we lost today to the #1 team in the country Armstrong Atlantic State University 7-2.

Singles:

1. #2 GRUBIN, Alex (CNY) def. #7 Mikk Irdoja (AASU) 6-2, 1-6, 10-5
2. Eudaldo Bonet (AASU) def. #3 BOLDAREV, Andrey (CNY) 6-1, 2-6, 6-1
3. #5 Rafael Array (AASU) def. NAMIAS, Raphael (CNY) 6-0, 6-1
4. Matus Mydla (AASU) def. DOBROTKA, Tamas (CNY) 6-0, 6-1
5. Daniel Regan (AASU) def. LINDELL, Andreas (CNY) 6-3, 6-0
6. #38 Paul Fitzgerald (AASU) def. MISSAL, Felix (CNY) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles:

1. #1 BOLDAREV, Andrey/GRUBIN, Alex (CNY) def. #4 Rafael Array/Mikk Irdoja (AASU) 8-6
2. Matus Mydla/Daniel Regan (AASU) def. DOBROTKA, Tamas/LINDELL, Andreas (CNY) 8-4
3. Eudaldo Bonet/Paul Fitzgerald (AASU) def. NAMIAS, Raphael/MISSAL, Felix (CNY) 8-0

The Clippers will play local Flagler College tomorrow at 2:30pm. The Saints are ranked #16 in the NCAA II. I hope I have better news for you all next time or my laptop may go flying off my balcony into the pool...


Nuff said...

Monday, March 01, 2010

Tough start...

Spring break got off to a rough start today as the Clippers lost to #2 Barry University today 8-1. Conditions could not have been better as God blessed us with a beautiful day, 72 degrees and sunny. However, moving from indoor play to outdoor play proved to be difficult for the fellas. Of course, not to forget that today’s opponent was extremely tough and came to win.

Doubles:

#1 Emanuel Fraitzl / Max Wimmer BU def. Grubin / Boldarev CC 8-5
#2 Ales Svigelj / Andrew Sharnov BU def. Missal / Namias CC 8-2
#3 Marko Mokrzycki / Sergio Velez BU def. Lindell / Dobrotka CC 8-6

Singles:

#1 Mokrzycki BU def. Grubin CC 6-2, 6-4
#2 Svigelj BU def. Boldarev CC 6-2, 7-5
#3 Fraitzl BU def. Namias CC 6-4, 6-7 (7-3) 1-0 (11-9)
#4 Wimmer BU def. Dobrotka CC 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
#5 Sharnov BU def. Missal CC 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
#6 Lindell CC def. Velez BU 6-7 (7-3), 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)

Things do not get any easier for the Clippers tomorrow as they will travel to a neutral site on the campus of the University of North Florida to play the #1 team in the NCAA II and two-time defending national champion Armstrong Atlantic State University. First serve is scheduled for 2pm weather permitting. We certainly hope for a better result to share tomorrow.

Nuff said...

Friday, February 26, 2010

Magic makes the "Y"...


A little John Wall dance too...

Ocean Gallery or Bust...

If you believe in the power of prayer, put you hands together as the team is scheduled to fly to Florida tomorrow 2/27 at 8am. A quick check of the weather in Saint Augustine, FL reveals temps only in the high 50's and low 60's, which is below normal for this time of the year. However, I can't complain as I would rather swing a tennis racquet and not a snow shovel.

I can only hope that the good folks at Jet Blue will have the ability to get us on a plane and in the air to our destination. With any good fortune, I will be in the jacuzzi at this time tomorrow. Woo hoo.


Nuff said...

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Clippers win opening match...

The Clippers will take the court for the first time this season, today 2/21/2010, versus NCAA I Monmouth University. First serve is scheduled for 2pm.

Check back during the match for live updates...

Doubles:

#1 Alex Grubin / Andrey Boldarev CC def. Laurence Heads / David Sherwood MU 8-3
#2 Tamas Dobrotka / Andreas Lindell CC def. Harvey Bhalla / Oliver Grimbly MU 8-2
#3 Felix Missal / Raphael Namias CC def. MU by default

Concordia leads 3-0 after the doubles. Order of finish (3,2,1).

Singles:

#1 Dobrotka CC def. Heads MU 6-3, 1-0 ret.
#2 Namias CC def. Sherwood MU 6-3, 6-0
#3 Missal CC def. Bhalla MU 6-1, 6-3
#4 Lindell CC def. Ben Dashiell MU 6-1, 6-2
#5 Dane Ostilly CC def. Grimbly MU 6-0, 7-6 (11-9)
#6 Shaolin Chandam CC def. MU by default

Order of finish (6,1,3,4,2,5)
Match score 9-0 Concordia
Season record 1-0

Nuff said...

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Shaolin Chandam

Concordia welcomes Shaolin Chandam to it's tennis team for the spring 2010 season. Hailing from India, Shaolin boasts a current All India Tennis Association (AITA) ranking of #142 nationally.

Shaolin, a crafty left-hander, is expected to add depth to the Clipper lineup and should be in line for plenty of playing time.
Nuff said...

It's a girl...

Congratulations to the entire Grubin family as Alex's brother Mirko and wife were recently blessed with the arrival of a baby girl. Zoja Grubin was born at 8 pounds, 2 ounces and is reportedly doing well.

Alex is very excited about the new edition to the family and will now be introduced in the lineup as Uncle Alex Grubin.

Alex truly is a Family Guy.

Nuff said...

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Recruiting trip to San Juan...

Hola! Making the extreme sacrifice, I have traveled south to the island of Puerto Rico and am staying in San Juan. Of course, as far as the IRS is concerned, I make this trip to search out the best prospective student athletes to fortify my team for next season. Yeah sure, a deductible recruiting trip, wouldn’t that be swell.

Of course, I know that the team is happy as Coach Tarangioli has taken over the conditioning sessions. In his advanced age, the "kinder and gentler" Coach Neil has emerged and is quite a bit softer on the fellas than yours truly. In any event, the fitness program, laden with plyometric drills and a heck of a lot of running, is just what we need to escalate our conditioning to a level comparable with the top teams in the nation.

Time sure flies. It is already approaching mid February. It is hard to believe that many of the southern teams will begin their slate this week. This, of course, is quite a disadvantage to us as they are able to play in the out-of-doors while we are not able to do so until we arrive in Florida for our spring trip...just two days prior to our first match versus the number two squad in the country, Barry University.

It is truly an exciting time for a new team equipped with several new players from many lands. It has been quite enjoyable to see the group bond together, and also, to witness their progress on the court.

A few items of note:

We will travel down to Queens College on Friday, 2/19 to see our friend Coach Schwartz and his players for a pre-season festival of tennis. We have been competing in practice against ourselves but it will be good for the players to get some sets in with another team. Also, we have our season and home opener scheduled for Sunday, 2/21 versus Monmouth College, with the action scheduled to begin at 2pm. The Clippers were able to coast past the Muhawks, coached by my old college foe, Mickey Cook, last season 7-0. As the superbowl will mark the completion of the NFL season this Sunday, 2/7, I expect that you all will have plenty of Sunday time to stop by the Meyers Tennis Center and support the team. Hope to see you there.

Hasta luego, nuff said...

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Spring trip finalized...

The schedule for the annual spring trip to Florida has been finalized and is brimming with opportunity for the 2010 Clipper tennismen. The team will fly to Jacksonville, FL Saturday, February 27th and head to Saint Augustine, FL and a the familiar confines of the Ocean Gallery Beach Resort (pictured below). After a few days of practice in the out-of-doors and adjusting to the warmer temperatures, sun and wind, the Clippers will open up against the Bucs of Barry University on Monday, March 1st on the campus of Rollins College, a neutral site. The match is scheduled for 10:30am. Barry, currently ranked #2 in the ITA/NCAA II National poll, eliminated the Clippers in last season's National Semi-final.

Next up will be a shot at Armstrong Atlantic State University, the current #1 ranked team in the NCAA II and two-time defending National Champions. The match is scheduled to be played on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL on Tuesday, March 2nd at 3pm.

The Clippers will stay in Saint Augustine to play the Saints of Flagler College Wednesday, March 3rd at 2:30pm. The Saints are currently ranked #34 in the NCAA II.

The final match is scheduled for Thursday, March 4th versus Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Dayton Beach, FL. The Clippers will be looking to beat the 2nd ranked Eagles (NAIA) for the first time in their history.

Clearly, any win will be a good win for the 9th ranked Clippers, especially an upset over either of the top two ranked programs in the NCAA II.

Nuff said...