Men's Tennis 2019-20 Season Review

4/28/2020 5:30:00 PM

QUICK HITS

The 2019-20 season marked the eighth in the history of the Daemen men's tennis program.
The Wildcats picked up three wins in 11 matches before the season was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The season's contests included three in the state of Florida - the third Sunshine State excursion in the history of the program.

SCHEDULE / RESULTS

ROSTER

STATISTICS

ECC STANDINGS

Head coach Kerry McDermott, a veteran of 35+ seasons, completed his second year leading the Wildcats.

3 THINGS TO KNOW HEADING INTO THE 2019-20 SEASON

1. With Ricardo Ruiz Martinez, the program's all-time leader in singles and doubles winning percentage, lost to graduation, Fabian Wilde (Crimmitschau, Germany) will take the mantle as the team's most experienced and accomplished player. Wilde enters his senior season with 60 combined singles and doubles wins in his career, one of just six players in team history to reach that number. He also ranks among the top-five in team history for singles wins (27), singles matches (76) and doubles matches (74). Wilde finished third on the team with seven singles wins last season, one year removed from a 14-win campaign that places him third on Daemen's single-season list.

2. In addition to Wilde, the Wildcats return the services of senior James Schaab-Rozbicki (Amherst, N.Y.), junior Jose Williamson III (Minneapolis, Minn.) and sophomore Patrick O'Brien (Pittsford, N.Y.). Schaab-Rozbicki is a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete recipient who played in a career-high 24 matches last season. Williamson III set the single-season program record for doubles wins as a freshman with 13, and added 11 more last season. O'Brien went 10-4 in singles play last season en route to becoming just the second player and first freshman in team history to garner All-ECC honors. The quartet of returners will be leaned upon heavily this season.

3. Head coach Kerry McDermott returns for his second season with the program after spending 36 years leading the Division I program at the University of Nebraska. The Wildcats posted a 6-15 record last season, and earned some impressive victories: a 5-2 defeat of regionally-ranked Fairmont State; the program's second-ever win against a Division I opponent, downing Coppin State 7-0; and the program's first-ever defeat of their ECC rivals from the University of the District of Columbia. McDermott will be joined by a familiar face as David Gonzalez Villegas joins the staff as a graduate assistant. Gonzalez Villegas was a four-year player for the Wildcats from 2015-19, earning 66 combined singles/doubles wins to rank third in team history. The Wildcats' 2019-20 season gets underway Sept. 7 when they host Millersville.

Ricardo Ruiz Martinez was lost to graduation following the 2018-19 season

Fabian Wilde entered his senior season as the team's most experienced player. He finished his career with 69 combined singles/doubles wins in his career to rank second in program history.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's tennis team suffered a 6-1 loss tonight against visiting Millersville University at the Miller Tennis Center. The match marked the season opener for both the Wildcats and Marauders. FULL RECAP
WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's tennis team returned to dual meet action today for the first time in three weeks and suffered a 7-0 loss to Niagara University. The non-conference match took place at Williamsville South High School. The Division I Purple Eagles improved to 2-0 on the year, while the Division II Wildcats dropped to 0-2. FULL RECAP

Freshman Phillip Vance competing this morning at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center #ITARegionals pic.twitter.com/FN1q8cjBQH
— Daemen Tennis (@DaemenTennis) September 14, 2019

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Daemen College men's tennis team suffered a 7-0 loss to Merrimack College here today in a non-conference match. The loss dropped the Wildcats to 0-3 on the year. It marked the first dual match of the year for Merrimack, which is transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I. FULL RECAP
MANCHESTER, N.H. - The Daemen College men's tennis team wrapped up its fall season with a 7-0 loss to perennial powerhouse Southern New Hampshire University at the SNHU Penmen Stadium today. FULL RECAP

Congratulations to our own Fabian Wilde, senior health promotion major, who was honored as 1 of 4 @daemencollege students to receive the Chur Family Scholarship pic.twitter.com/ViyP6Q75rJ
— Daemen Tennis (@DaemenTennis) October 23, 2019

Sophomore Patrick O'Brien, a second-team All-ECC selection in 2018-19, missed part of the fall season with an injury but returned to be a major contributor in the spring.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's tennis team got their 2019-20 season resumed in a big way, downing new Western New York rival Medaille College by a 7-2 final score in a non-conference dual match at the South Towns Tennis Club. It marked the spring season opener for the Wildcats - their first match since closing their brief fall season in early October - as they improved to 1-4 overall. Medaille, which is fielding a men's tennis team for just a second season, dropped to 0-1. FULL RECAP
ERIE, Pa. - Mercyhurst University scored a 6-1 win over Daemen College in a non-conference men's tennis match played at Westwood Racquet Club today. FULL RECAP

ECC Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week - Phillip Vance, @DaemenAthletics https://t.co/6xMhmCb1lM pic.twitter.com/By3j7Yzo8P
— East Coast Conference (@ECCSports) February 17, 2020

Jose Williamson III was a constant in the team's lineup this season, including 11 appearances in the No. 1 doubles slot alongside teammate Fabian Wilde. Williamson ranks seventh in program history with 28 doubles wins.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's tennis team did not drop a single game en route to a 7-0 shutout victory over visiting Alfred University in a non-conference match today at Miller Tennis Center. FULL RECAP
WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's tennis team picked up their second win in just over 24 hours, taking under 90 minutes to knock off the visiting Oswego State Lakers tonight by an 8-1 final score at Miller Tennis Center. FULL RECAP

Ready to go against Oswego! pic.twitter.com/nqeqODc6aB
— Daemen Tennis (@DaemenTennis) February 22, 2020

Over the course of four seasons, James Schaab-Rozbicki worked his way from walk-on to key contributor. He set a new personal benchmark with seven combined singles/doubles wins this season, finishing his career with 20 overall.

MEN'S TENNIS SET FOR THREE-MATCH FLORIDA TRIP

The Wildcats will utilize the college's spring break from classes to travel south for a training and competitions in Florida. Head coach Kerry McDermott's team, which has had two local matches postponed because of weather in recent weeks, will compete against three Sunshine State Conference affiliates - Florida Southern, Embry-Riddle and Palm Beach Atlantic. It marks the third Florida trip in the eight-year history of the program, and the first since 2018.

LAKELAND, Fla. - Senior Fabian Wilde earned the 69th overall win of his career, but it wasn't enough as the Daemen College men's tennis team suffered a 6-1 loss to nationally-ranked Florida Southern College today. FULL RECAP
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Daemen College men's tennis team played their second-straight match against a nationally-ranked opponent today, falling 7-0 to No. 25 Embry-Riddle University at the Crotty Tennis Complex. FULL RECAP
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Daemen College men's tennis team wrapped up a three-match tour of The Sunshine State today with a 7-0 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic University at the Mitch Gornto Tennis Center. FULL RECAP

SENIOR SALUTE

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