News Release Date:
Wednesday, October 14
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Whitman College senior Matt Solomon got off to a good start at the ITA's National Small College Championships on Wednesday with a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Erick DelaFuente at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala.
"Matt did a great job of competing against a strong opponent," Whitman coach Jeff Northam said. "He played wonderfully."
 |
| Matt Solomon |
Solomon and DelaFuente, a freshman at Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas), made the national tournament by winning the singles titles at their respective Pacific Northwest and Southwest regional tournaments.
Their Wednesday showdown, however, was a "play-in" match for the national tournament's eighth and final spot in the NCAA Division III singles bracket.
By eliminating DelaFuente, Solomon advances to play Andy Peters, a senior at Middlebury College, at 10:30 a.m. (CDT) Thursday. If he wins that match, Solomon faces a semifinal test at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
The DIII singles title match is set for 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
In Wednesday's match, which was delayed at the start by rain for at least an hour, Solomon broke DelaFuente's serve early in the first set and soon found himself serving for the set at 5-4. But DelaFuente broke back and then held on his next serve to square the set at 5-5.
|
|
Matt Solomon |
With Solomon again serving, DelaFuente jumped to a love-40 lead before Solomon pulled out of his momentary tailspin.
"That was the turning point in the match, and Matt showed a lot of maturity," Northam said. "He kept his composure and didn't let himself get flustered. After fighting all the way back to hold serve, Matt broke DelaFuente's next service game to take the set 7-5."
"From there, Matt really started to dominate," Northam added.
Solomon raced away to a 3-0 lead and was leading in the fourth game when rain forced another delay of about 20 minutes.
"There was a huge momentum shift at the end of the second set, and I think (DelaFuente) lost some of his focus," Northam said. "Matt also was playing extremely well by then. He only lost three or four points in the entire second set."
"It was a tough match," Solomon said. "There is so much tension in these play-in matches, and it helped me a lot that I've been in that situation before at this tournament. All that you can do is stay within your game and play as well as you can.
"I remember when I played in this tournament as a freshman, so I know how nervous (DelaFuente) must have been. He still played a good match, especially in the first set."
As a freshman, Solomon qualified for the national fall tournament in doubles. He and teammate Nadeem Kassam lost their doubles play-in match that fall (7-5, 6-4) to a pair of seniors from Mary Hardin-Baylor.
As a sophomore, Solomon lost his play-in match in singles (6-4, 6-4), but he and teammate Etienne Moshevich posted a 7-5, 6-3 victory in the doubles play-in match before losing in the second round.
Last fall, Solomon won his singles play-in match before he and Moshevich dropped a tough 6-7 (7-3), 6-4, 10-7 decision in doubles. Illness forced Solomon to default his next singles match.
- 30 -
CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu
© Whitman College | 345 Boyer Ave. Walla Walla, WA 99362 | Contact us