tennis

Player Spotlight

Men's tennis star and socialite Fernando Armendaris

By:
Published Apr 13, in Sports

(photo courtesy of MercerBears.com) International student Fernando Armendaris has turned the men’s tennis team into an Atlantic Sun competitor in 2011. Learning the game in Ecuador, Fernando made strides in doubles play this year, helping MU to a 9-11 record.

A native of Quito, Ecuador, senior Fernando Armendaris traveled to America to follow his passion for playing tennis.

Cluster: How did you first get involved playing tennis?
Armendaris: Both of my parents are tennis players. When I was five years old they took me to a tennis academy in Ecuador. When I was twelve years old I really got into it and started being competitive.

C: How does tennis in America differ from Ecuador?
A: It is so different. I live in the mountains, so the ball travels faster. I grew up playing tennis on clay. I had to get used to the court when I came to America. In Ecuador we don’t really play much doubles, either.

C: How do you prepare for each match? Do you have a pre-game ritual?
A: Right before I play the match I pray and ask God that what I do, I do for His glory.

C: Having played tennis all four years, which seasons would you say have been your most productive?
A: My junior year, because my personal records were really good. Tennis is a team sport. So team-wise it is this year, because the talent we have on the team is unbelievable. We beat Stetson, which is something we haven’t done is six years. The A-Sun conference this year has been so competitive and so close. It is exciting because you never know what is going to happen.

C: How have you gotten better this season as opposed to the last seasons?
A: Doubles, double, doubles for sure, and volleys in general and doubles strategy.

C: What is one thing that Coach Woolfolk tells you that has stuck with you the most?
A: Just fight. He doesn’t get mad at us when we lose, but he expects us to fight and leave everything on the court. That reminds me that no matter what I do, I am always supposed to fight and play with my heart. It all comes down to who wants it more.

C: What are your plans after graduation?
A: Over the summer I will go back home to do a study abroad program. After that my future is uncertain. I would love to come back to America and work here for a while. In the long run, I would love to go home and take everything that I have learned and try to open NGOs and connect that to the Gospel. My heart is on the mission field and to spread the message of hope.

C: Who inspires you the most?
A: It is definitely Jesus. He is a servant and He doesn’t think of himself but how to serve others. Even though I fail all the time, He is my living example.

C: Who are some of your favorite professional tennis players?
A: Novak Djokovic. It’s funny because not that many people like him. I think his game style is simple and he tries really hard to win. He is a medium point between Federer and Nadal. I don’t think he has lost a season match. So it is definitely a good time to like Novak.

Men’s tennis earns postseason spot in A-Sun Championships

Men advance to tournament while women's side wraps up 2011

By:
Published Apr 13, in Sports

(photo courtesy of MercerBears.com) Dave Barton helped guide his team to win the final two matches of the season to give the men’s side a 9-11 overall record on the year. The Bears face Stetson Thursday night for the right to play top seed North Florida in the semifinals.

(NOTE: AUTHOR GARRET MCDOWELL)

In what many will consider a down year for Mercer tennis by record alone, the Mercer Bears’ men’s tennis squad qualified for the 2011 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament on the final day of competition, defeating in-state rival Kennesaw State. Senior Day was definitely sweet for the Bears. On the women’s side, the season finally ended. A home win against Western Carolina was the last good note for the Bears, as they dropped three straight to end the season.

Men’s Tennis: 9-11,
5-5 Atlantic Sun.

ETSU 6, Mercer 1

It was not a good day for the Bears, as they dropped their third straight conference match, and their fifth on the year. Mercer put themselves into a desperate situation for a playoff berth. ETSU won their ninth match in conference play this year, and the Bucs were simply on fire. Three singles matches were won in the straight sets and the doubles point was only challenged in one match. Guilherme Frias was able to win a thriller in extra sets and David Barton’s winning streak was halted at six games with an extra sets loss. Fernando Armendaris was close, but he was unable to win either of his matches on the day.

Mercer 4, Jack. State 3

Mercer headed to Jacksonville, Ala. to right the ship and they succeed indeed. The close victory really does not do justice to how well the Bears performed across the board. Mercer won the doubles point handily, with none of the six matches going to tiebreakers. Three Bears won their singles matches in straight sets: Peter Tauchner, Evandro Rosindo, and Barton. The three Bears who were unable to grab victory all lost in the super-tiebreaker third set. This important nonconference victory was the first victory since March 19 and the first win over a non-Atlantic Sun opponent since Feb. 23, which was Jacksonville State in Macon. In addition, it was the first time that the Bears beat a team on the road this season that was not from the Atlantic Sun.

Mercer 4, Kenn. State 3

Senior Day saw Mercer win the first four points on the day, clinching not only a win for the home squad but at least one extra game in the conference tournament. The score line does not recognize that Mercer lead 4-0 midway through the day. Nevertheless, Fernando Armendaris had his most meaningful serve of his entire career. With the Bears No. 3 doubles squad having broke serve and gone up 8-7, they led 40-30, and with the Owls having gotten back to back points and about to force a deuce, the senior from Ecuador aced his opponents, giving the Bears something to build their day off. ‘Drama’ would be a good word to describe how the Bears have played this season, and they will carry it into the postseason. Barton, Tauchner and Pierre Tafelski won their singles matches in straight sets, giving Barton his 14th win on the year, with just four losses. He was also 8-1 in conference play this year. Rosindo, Armendaris, and Frias all lost in extra sets, but the match was sealed by the time any of them finished up play.

The men’s tennis team beat Stetson this season 5-2 on March 11, for their first win over the Hatters since 2005.They will face off again on Thursday, April 14 for the right to play No. 1 North Florida in the Semifinals of the conference tournament. With the way the Bears have played in the last week, there is a definite possibility that the Bears could find themselves in the A-Sun final. The tournament will be held in DeLand, Fla. this week.

Women’s Tennis: 4-15,
1-9 Atlantic Sun.

Mercer 5, W. Carolina 2

Mercer won the doubles point, and the Bears picked up four of six singles matchups to win for the second time in three games, which is the first time they’ve won two matches in one week since February. Jennifer Lada, Lucie Payrat and Amanda Bertani won their matches, with Sarah Hanna picking up a point in a match that the Catamounts of Western Carolina did not field a player for. Amalia Bugge and Aurelie de Montjou were both unable to win their singles play.

ETSU 6, Mercer 1

ETSU picked up their ninth win in Atlantic Sun play and the Bears were soundly beaten at home. Only Lucie Payrat had any legitimate success against the Bucs as she won in straight sets. The rest of the Bears lost in straight sets.

Jack. State 4, Mercer 3

Despite splitting Jacksonville State in singles play, the doubles play stopped the Bears from winning their first nonconference game since February. Hanna, Montjou, and Payrat kept them in it, but the rest of the Bears were unable to get a final decisive point.

Kenn. State 4, Mercer 3

The long season finally came to an end against the rival Owls, as the Bears lost Senior Day 4-3. The Owls improved to 18-5 on the year with seven conference wins. The result was closer than the score would indicate for most of the day as Mercer won the last two singles matches. Bugge, Payrat and Montjou could not get any support from the rest of their team. Lucie Payrat won her tenth straight singles match, finishing 14-5 overall, including an 8-2 record in Atlantic Sun play for the 2011 season.

Men’s, women’s tennis fighting for position in A-Sun play

Despite fast start to the season, both squads fading in standings

By:
Published Mar 30, in Sports

 

(photo courtesy of MercerBears.com) Fernando Armendaris looks to volley a serve during a recent match as the men's team fights to stay around the .500 mark for the season.

NOTE: GARRET MCDOWELL AUTHOR

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams have had mixed starts to their 2011 seasons, with Mercer’s men at 7-10 through March 28 and the women at 3-12 through March 28.  Despite the tough starts to the season, the Bears have performed well at home, including a combined 14-0 sweep of Young Harris by the men and women combined. Nevertheless the Bears have had a tough spot as of late, with both squads winning just one in their last five matches each.

Men’s Tennis: 7-10,
4-4 A-Sun

Butler 4, Mercer 3
Barton received his eighth win on the year in singles play, but the Bears were unable to pick up the doubles point after splitting the singles points 3-3. Despite Mercer benefiting from a defaulted point and doubles matchup, a lineup that saw mostly backups and reserves playing was unable to do much. Basketball player Justin Cecil even had some playing time, but he was unable to secure a point in doubles play.

North Florida 5, Mercer 2
Armendaris got to eight wins and Barton got to nine, but the Bears were unable to beat the nationally ranked (#75) North Florida Ospreys on the road. Tafelski, Tauchner, Frias and Rosindo were all beaten in straight sets as the Bears lost their first match in conference play in five games.

Mercer 4, Jacksonville 3
Mercer rebounded from the trip to North Florida with a squeaker of a win over Jacksonville. Barton won his 10th singles match this season and the Bears saw Tauchner and Rosindo win their decisive doubles match 9-8. Tafelski won his ninth singles match on top of that, as his return to winning ways helped stop the losing streak.

USC Upstate 5, Mercer 2
Barton continued to dominate the competition, getting to 11 wins this year, but the Bears lost tiebreakers across the board that could have changed the outcome. The Bears dropped their third conference game on the year and they lost their second home match since beating FGCU 7-0 on March 12. Armendaris and Frias were able to win their doubles match, but were unable to change the outcome.

Campbell 5, Mercer 2
Barton got his sixth straight victory this season, but the rest of the Bears could not follow his performance, as all singles matches were lost otherwise. The Bears were able to challenge the Atlantic Sun’s upper echelon team in the doubles point at home, winning two of the three matches. All in all, the Bears seemed to be slumping. The Bears have ETSU and Kennesaw both at home, with a road trip to Jacksonville State in between. After this, the Bears will play in the Atlantic Sun tournament.

Women’s Tennis: 3-12,
1-7 A-Sun

Butler 5, Mercer 2
With a non-conference matchup interspersed between several conference games, the Bears looked to play a tough out-of-region game against the Butler Bulldogs. Despite support at the three and four spots with Aurelie de Montjou and Lucie Payrat, the Bears were unable to win, losing their seventh in a row. They were swept at the doubles point, leading to the big win for Butler.

North Florida 6, Mercer 1
Payrat was the only winner in the Bears’ loss on March 18 against North Florida. The Bears were swept at the doubles point again, and they lost every singles match in straight sets.

Jacksonville 6, Mercer 1
Payrat’s hot streak continued, but the Bears were once again looking to see that success across the board. It was their ninth straight loss and their sixth loss in conference play with Jacksonville winning their 11th match this year.

Mercer 5, USC Upstate 2
USC Upstate stayed winless as the Bears won for the first time since Feb. 20. Jennifer Lada, Amanda Bertani and Sarah Hanna’s straight sets victories followed Payrat’s fifth straight win. In doubles competition, Payrat was on the losing side, but the Bears still won the point as the other pairs came through. This was the first Atlantic Sun victory for the Bears this year.

Campbell 6, Mercer 1
Payrat was 4-5 in singles play before a now six-match winning streak that has her at 10-5, 6-2 in conference play. She has been hot while the rest of her teammates continue to struggle in a rebuilding year for the Bears. All singles losses were in straight sets. The doubles point was not in doubt for Campbell as the nine-win Camels continued to perform well before the A-Sun tournament. The Bears get Western Carolina on April 1, before ETSU the next day. A trip to Jacksonville State looms before the season finale at home versus Kennesaw.

Coaching Spotlight: Warren Woolfolk

Tennis coach looks to turn around program as team rebuilds

By:
Published Mar 30, in Sports

(photo courtesy of MercerBears.com) Tennis coach Warren Woolfolk was tasked with turning around both the men's and women's tennis programs that haven't seen a winning record in several years.

NOTE: AUTHOR ASHLEY MANN

As head coach for the men’s and women’s tennis teams and a Mercer graduate, Warren Woolfolk understands what it takes to succeed in this game. He sat down with The Cluster to answer a few questions.

Cluster: Having recently assumed the role of coach, what changes do you hope to make in the tennis program?
Woolfolk: Hopefully victories, for one. In the last six or seven years the team hasn’t had a season that has been over 500. Last year was my first season, and the men finished right at 500 and the women about the same. Two, is just a stronger regimen as far as practice goes. That includes more conditioning and stronger focus on getting better.

C: How have you been able to relate to your players on their level, having been a Mercer athlete yourself?
W: Being a player here at Mercer really helped me to understand what the athletes are going through as far as the toughness of the academic regimen. I was in the English literature department when I was here, so I understand the school is very tough academically. On one hand I can understand what the kids have to go through academically, and on the other [I understand]the level of competition in the Atlantic-Sun Conference. It really helps me in recruiting, knowing what level player to bring in as far as how to be successful within the conference.

C: Did you explore other options or did you always know that you wanted to end up coaching?
W: I always did. When I graduated I was a tennis pro at Macon’s Idle Hour Country Club, and that was a stepping stone to being a head coach at a university. Since I graduated, my dream was to come back here and coach.

C: How did you become involved in the game of tennis?
W: I was always a baseball and football player growing up. I did not start playing tennis until I was 12, which is kind of late. My parents took me out to the courts after baseball practice, and I loved it.

C: Looking back at the past year, how would you classify your men and women’s team progress?
W: Tremendous progress. Our teams this year are altogether more athletic, and there is a chemistry within both teams that we have never had in the past. Everyone wants to win, and everyone is committed to tennis. Commitment is the number one issue that the team has lacked in the past decade. Everyone has stepped up their level of commitment in the tennis program.

C: The women’s team has only won two matches this season. How will you plan on them being able to turn it around during the latter part of the season?
W: Our women’s team is very young. We are really in a rebuilding phase with our women’s team. This year I did not expect to have a lot of wins, but I had hoped to. Next year we will probably see more results.

C: What’s one of the more important characteristics to have as a tennis player?
W: Work ethic. If you give 100 percent work ethic into whatever you do, you are going to be successful most of the time. You’re are not always going to be successful — for example, our women’s team. However, results will come and hard work pays off.

Men’s tennis looks promising early in season

Women struggle in conference play

By:
Published Mar 16, in Sports

(photo courtesy of MercerBears.com) Mercer’s Guilherme Frias volleys a serve in a recent match as the Bears get off to a hot start in conference play.

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams have had mixed starts to their 2011 seasons, with Mercer’s men at 6-6 and Mercer’s women at 2-8 through March 15. Despite the tough starts to the season the Bears have performed well at home, including a combined 14-0 sweep of Young Harris by the men and women combined.

Men’s Tennis: 6-6 (3-1)
Lipscomb 4, Mercer 3
Peter Tauchner and Dave Barton were the only two able to pick up singles points against conference rival Lipscomb in Nashville. The Bison were too strong as individuals, but the Bears won the doubles point. Fernando Armendaris and Evandro Rosindo pushed their opponents to the tiebreaker in their nail-biting third sets, but it was not enough for the Bears as they dropped the first Atlantic Sun match of the season.

Mercer 4, Belmont 2
Tefelski and Frias are now each 6-3 on the year, and the Bears picked up a great conference road win in Nashville against Belmont. Belmont dropped their fifth straight match on the season and Mercer won their first match in over a week. There were no doubles matches played, but even then the singles dominance was enough for Mercer to achieve victory.

App. State 6, Mercer 1
Despite starting the day off well with a doubles victory, Mercer lost their sixth match of the season. Every player lost their singles matchup and only Rosindo and Frias were able to come close to winning their matchups, and they each lost their third set 6-0.

Mercer 5, Stetson 2
Getting back into Atlantic Sun play, the Bears recorded a second conference victory against the Stetson Hatters. Frias and Tefelski were tested, but each rose to 7-4 this season. Barton rose to 7-3. Mercer won the doubles point and they dominated at home against a Stetson team who had won 10 matches so far this season.

Mercer 7, FGCU 0
Mercer handed the FGCU Eagles their tenth loss of the season on March 12, and Tefelski and Frias each recorded their eighth wins on the year. Armendaris recorded his seventh win this season his doubles team recorded their ninth victory on the year, including their seventh in a row. Tauchner ended his losing streak, getting a sixth singles victory.
Mercer is next in action against Butler University at home on Wednesday, but then they re-enter conference play with a trip to North Florida and Jacksonville this weekend, March 18-19. The Bears return home with games against USC Upstate and Campbell the following weekend.

Women’s Tennis: 2-8 (0-4)
Chattanooga 7, Mercer 0
It was not a good day for the Bears as the women were shut out at home to Chattanooga. The Bears lost the doubles point and were unable to even force a third set in any singles match.

Lipscomb 4, Mercer 3
If Mercer had six players on the women’s tennis team, they could have defeated Lipscomb. Losing a singles point automatically and losing part of the doubles match to begin with made the attempt to knock off Lipscomb almost impossible, despite winning the other matches 3-2 and splitting the doubles point.

Belmont 4, Mercer 3
Belmont won the doubles point and Mercer was unable to get four out of six singles points to win the match as Belmont won their first conference game of the year. Lada won her fifth match of the year despite the Bears dropping their third straight.

UNC-Wil. 7, Mercer 0
The Bears were hard-pressed to find anything of substance to take back from their thrashing defeat at the hands of UNC Wilmington. Being swept proved that the Bears had a lot of growing to do if they were going to contend in conference play.

Stetson 7, Mercer 0
Same story, different day for the Mercer Bears women’s tennis team as they traveled home to meet Stetson. The Bears dropped their fifth in a row and have not scored a point since the close loss to Belmont.

FGCU 4, Mercer 3
A sixth defeat in a row and their third in a stretch of one-point losses, the Mercer Bears could find little solace in a 3-3 split of the singles play as their doubles play continues to haunt them. Lada won his sixth this year but the rest of the team is really dealing with a tough rest of the season.

Men’s, Women’s Tennis Updates: 3/1

Mixed starts for Bears tennis teams in 2011

By:
Published Mar 1, in Sports

Both the Men’s and Women’s Tennis Teams have had mixed starts to their 2011 seasons, with Mercer’s men at 2-3 through February 19 and Mercer’s women at 2-2 through February 20. Despite the tough starts to the season, the Bears have performed well at home as of late, including a combined 14-0 sweep of Young Harris by both the men and women’s teams.

Men’s Tennis: 2-3, 0-0 Atlantic Sun

Georgia State 5, Mercer 2.

Mercer lost the four, five, and six spots in singles play in straight sets to drop the match in Atlanta against in-state rival Georgia State. Fernando Armendaris pushed his opponent to an extra set, but he also dropped his singles match. Pierre Tefelski and Peter Tauchner each won their singles match in extra sets. Mercer also dropped the doubles point.  Armendaris and Evandro Rosindo won the sole match for Mercer in the doubles two spot, but Guilherme Frias and Dave Barton pushed their opponent to the brink before losing 8-6. Mercer was down 5-0 before they picked up a point on the day, mainly because of the the strong finishes by Tauchner and Tefelski.

Mercer 7, Georgia Southwestern 0.

Straight set victories all around were the norm, as Mercer rebounded from their tough loss to a dominant win over Georgia Southwestern. Tefelski and Tauchner each went to 2-0 on the day in singles play, and Armendaris and Rosindo went to 2-0 in doubles play.  This was the home opener for the Bears, and it saw Rosindo, Frias, and Barton all rebound from difficult matchups in Atlanta.

Coastal Carolina 5, Mercer 2.

Mercer battled Coastal Carolina at home, only to see similar results as the Georgia State matchup.  Despite close matches in double play, only Frias and Barton were able to win their match, giving Coastal Carolina the doubles point.  Frias and Barton were also the only two Bears to win their singles points, in the five and six position.  All matches lost were in straight sets, but no Bear was held scoreless in any set.

Florida A&M 4, Mercer 3.

Pierre Tefelski and Guilherme Frias each went to 3-1 in singles play on the year, and Fernando Armendaris added another point for the Bears, but an extra set loss by Dave Barton (combined with straight sets losses by the two and four positions left the match to be decided by the doubles point.  Unfortunately, despite strong efforts, the Bears were letdown, being swept in that category.  Tefelski and Peter Tauchner were the closest, but it was not the Bears’ day against the Florida A&M Rattlers in Tallahassee.

Mercer 7, Young Harris 0.

Tefelski and Frias now each sit at 4-1 in singles play on the season, as Mercer brought the heat at home versus Young Harris.  The shutout victory saw Elbert Beekman in his debut for Mercer tennis.  Beekman won his singles matchup 6-0, 6-0.  Mercer also swept the doubles point, not leaving anything to chance.

The Bears are starting to find rhythm this season, challenging tough opponents in non-conference play.  With the emergence of Beekman as a reliable alternative, the Bears also have depth on their bench.  They have non-conference matchups with Jacksonville State and Georgia Southern before starting Atlantic Sun play in Nashville against Lipscomb and Belmont.

Women’s Tennis: 2-2, 0-0 Atlantic Sun.

Georgia State 6, Mercer 1.

Mercer’s women opened their season against in-state rival Georgia State as well, and their 6-1 loss was punctuated with several straight sets losses in singles play.  Lucie Payrat picked up the lone Mercer point on the day, after winning 11-9 in the third and final set.  State proved to be much more experienced and better than the Bears, who look to play their way into the conference tournament again.

Florida A&M 6, Mercer 1.

Jennifer Lada won her singles matchup at the one position in straight sets, but it would prove to be the only good news on the day. Mercer had to default their sixth position, having just five players able to make the trip to Tallahassee. Amanda Bertoni pushed her opponent to an extra set, but it would not be a victory for the Bears. Jennifer Lada and Aurelie de Montjou won their doubles match 8-4, but having to default cost them a chance to win the doubles point

Mercer 7, Young Harris 0.

The Bears devastated Young Harris, in a game that saw former Bear Kelly Blount return to Mercer.  Amalia Bugge and Lucie Payrat won their matches in straight sets, and the Bears saw Lada and Payrat each climb to 2-1 on the year.  Lada and Montjou also went to 2-1 in doubles play this season.  The complete shutout victory was a good turnaround from tough losses against Georgia State and Florida A&M.

Mercer 7, Savannah State 0.

The next day, Mercer continued their home dominance, keeping a 14-0 shutout going with the seven-to-nothing victory of Savannah State.  Only Savannah State’s Diskristjansdottir was able to win a game in singles play, with every player losing in straight shutout sets.  Lada and Payrat are now each 3-1 in singles play on the year.  The same goes for doubles play, as the visitors could not manage to win a single game, losing all three doubles matches 8-0.  Lada and Montjou improved their record to 3-1 on the season in doubles play.

The women have home matches against Jacksonville State and Chattanooga remaining before going on the road to Lipscomb and Belmont to start the season.  They will have to overcome the lack of a bench in order to achieve a spot in the Atlantic Sun tournament.