After brushing aside their Northeast Conference foes in West Windsor, NJ, over the weekend of April 18-20, the Fairleigh Dickinson University Men's Tennis team claimed their 10th overall Northeast Conference championship title and second in successive years. During the postseason the Knights have not allowed a single point following three resounding 4-0 victories over Wagner College, Robert Morris University and the championship game against Quinnipiac University. To find the Knights last loss in league action one must go back 12 matches and over 18 months to the fall of 2006. It is this kind of conference form which has taken the Knights to the last three Northeast Conference title matches. Now it is time for the Knights to compete at the NCAA tennis championships against the University of Virginia.
The odds will be much in favor of the Virginia team, combing its No.1 seed with a 28-0 record when the teams meet on Saturday, May 10 at the regional location of Charlottesville, VA. The Cavaliers have been dominant, rampaging through their schedule, defeating each opponent they faced, and by winning the Atlantic Coast Conference the University secured an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Not one person in the world of tennis will be tipping Fairleigh Dickinson University to progress, except for the Knights Head Coach Ira Miller, who knows that in the NCAA tournament, anything is possible. “I was hoping to get a lower seed because our team has a chance to do some damage, but if you want to make the headlines then there is nothing like taking down number one.” Miller's confidence and optimism spreads to his players, especially the top half of the order, who have proved the Knights' strongest asset this season. Sophomore Philip Stephens (London, England), freshman Matt Gordon (London, England), and freshman Josh Girling (Westminster, England) have combined to finish the year a combined 67-27. The trio has had a sensational season, marked by their glittering recognition at the 2007-08 Northeast Conference awards ceremony. Stephens retained his NEC Player of the Year acclaim, representing the fifth year running an FDU player has won the award. Gordon took the NEC Rookie of the Year award, marking the third-straight Knight to garner the honor. Girling finished a successful season with First Team All-NEC acknowledgment. Miller truly believes that FDU is going to the dance with a shot at progressing, and are not there to solely make up the numbers. “I think our top players have proven they can play with anyone. They come from very strong junior playing backgrounds, they all have a lot of talent, and they all work exceptionally hard. They want to make a statement.”
Much of the publicity surrounding Fairleigh Dickinson University men's tennis this year has culminated around the top three players, but key to any triumphant program is how well the whole squad of players can gel together. The Knights can be extremely thankful to their players in the bottom half of the order and to their role players. All of whom have gone about their business efficiently and effectively, but quietly and out of the spotlight. These players received the recognition they deserved come the end of the season as many of them picked up conference accolades. Sophomore Priit Gross (Tartu, Estonia) collected First Team All-NEC acclaim. Sophomore Kyle Eddins went 5-0 in league matches, en route to pushing his career Northeast Conference record to 11-1. Eddins received Second Team All-NEC in the fifth flight, marking back-to-back conference accolades in singles action. Competing in sixth singles, senior Justin Seow (Johor Bahru, Malaysia) picked-up the third All-Conference honor of his career. The Knights captain hasn't lost a Northeast Conference match since his freshman year. Lastly, junior Esteban Blanco (Buenos Aires, Argentina) combined with Stephens and earned his second-consecutive First Team Doubles award.
When Ira Miller returned for his third tenure as men's and women's tennis coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University in August of 2005 he was dreaming of making a definite impact in the Northeast Conference, but for it to come as quickly as it has over the past three years makes the buzz surrounding Knights tennis all the more exciting. “I will never get tired of winning the conference championship. The last two years have been sensational. My best two years as a coach, as they both included NEC championship victories and automatic bids to the NCAA,” Miller stated. In winning back-to-back NEC titles, the Knights are making a statement to their rivals of their intent to dominate the conference for the foreseeable future. “It leaves a sweet taste in the mouth to feel like we have the beginnings of a new FDU tennis dynasty here with these players, just like the University had in the late 80's and mid 90's,” Miller added.
In a team that includes a very young core, it is hard not to envision this team growing stronger and stronger together. By keeping the level of talent that the men's tennis program at FDU already has and by adding a few talented recruits to the mix, this team can surely go on to achieve even greater feats. “I believe we, as a team, will only get better and better each year. The goal right now is to take on Virginia. In Charlottesville we will strive to play within ourselves and bring our best game. As for the future, we want to continue our unbeaten league form and push for NEC glory once again. We can win three in a row.”
