Scots Have Sights Set on First NCAC Title Since ‘96

Nilesh Saldanha

Following a schedule over the last 10 days, which saw The College of Wooster play seven matches, the Scots appear to be well prepared to make a run at their first North Coast Athletic Conference title since 1996. The NCAC Men’s Tennis Tournament will be Saturday and Sunday (April 24-25) at Oberlin College.

Wooster dropped a 5-1 decision to Kenyon College on Thursday (April 22), and the two very well could meet again in the NCAC finals. Earlier in the season, Kenyon edged the Scots 4-3 for third-place at the Great Lakes Colleges Association Tournament.

Prior to Thursday, Wooster had run off six in a row, dating back to last Monday (April 12), highlighted by wins against Denison University (4-2), Ohio Athletic Conference champion Ohio Northern University (5-2), and Wittenberg University (6-1).

The Scots have been able to produce a 14-7 record, already the most wins for the program since 1999 (18-5), despite their top-two players fighting through injuries. The reigning NCAC Player of the Year, Nilesh Saldanha, has compiled an 11-4 mark, all at No. 1 singles, while rookie and No. 2 singles player Will Morrison is a combined 10-7, including 8-6 at the second spot.

Among those playing at a variety of positions in the singles lineup has been Nikhil Gonsalves, who has played as high as No. 1 while accumulating an overall .500 record (9-9), including 6-2 at No. 4. Wooster’s other mainstay in the starting lineup, Alec Garnett, is also 9-9 and has been playing some of his best tennis of late, prevailing in four of his last five matches.

The Scots’ depth has been a key, too, as they’ve combined for 25 wins in the bottom-third of the order, including 16-2 as a team at No. 6 singles. Several players have seen action there, with Brian Ebbitts, Chris Mickelson, and Tim Wyatt separating themselves lately.

Wooster’s doubles teams have fluctuated throughout the spring as well. Saldanha and Gonsalves have provided a solid No. 1 combination (10-4), while Garnett and Dan Fleszar, and Morrison and Mickelson are the likely teams at No. 2 (5-6) and No. 3 (8-2), respectively.

Before the Scots can think about a third shot at Kenyon, they will have to take care of business, starting in the quarterfinals with Ohio Wesleyan University (6-10) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The winner will play the winner of Denison (9-8) and Allegheny College (10-11) Sunday at 10:30 a.m., and the championship is slated for 2:30 p.m.