Gators Give Back to Community

The team in front of the fire for Make A Difference Day

The Free Tennis Clinic

October 16 & 17, 2010
Meadville, PA
This past weekend the Gators dedicated themselves to giving back to the surrounding Meadville community.

Saturday was Make a Difference Day, a nationally recognized day of community service. The team piled up sticks and branches in nearby Lincoln Avenue Park, then set those piles on fire. The Gators, used to setting fires on the tennis court with their high caliber of play, were happy to clear the unwanted debris in the park.

Sunday the team held their annual Free Tennis Clinic. The event attracted kids from the community between the ages of 4 - 17. The kids got to learn technique, play games, and win some prizes.

Gators Continue Strong Play at Oberlin Invitational

Day 1

10/2/2010

OBERLIN, Ohio – Due to a rain soaked day at Oberlin, day one of the men’s Oberlin Invitational had to be played indoors and matches were forced to move to 8-game pro set scoring to get all the scheduled matches in. As a team, the Gators went 16-8 overall, 8-4 in singles play and 8-4 in doubles play.

Rookies Pat Cole and Frank Mosconi and sophomore Max Sosa swept through day one competition unscathed. The doubles team of Cole and senior Alex Bonfiglio dropped only two games through their two doubles matches.

All the teams in the invitational are Division III except for Division II representative Tiffin. The Gators combined went 5-2 against Tiffin.

The second and final day of competition will be played on Sunday, October 3rd. Following the Oberlin Invitational, the Gators will take on Division I Robert Morris University to wrap up their fall season.

Day 2
10/3/2010

OBERLIN, Ohio – Rain forced play to be moved indoors for the second straight day at the men’s Oberlin Invitational on Sunday. Day one was a successful day for the men’s tennis team as they went 16-8 between singles and doubles play. Day two yielded even better results for the up-and-coming men’s tennis program. The Gators turned in a mark of 14-4, including an impressive 10-2 record in singles play.

Freshman Frank Mosconi and and sophomore Max Sosa came out of the invitational unbeaten in singles play, and the two also went undefeated in doubles play as they teamed up to go 3-0 in doubles during the tournament.

Highlights from the weekend!

JJ gets barricaded into the bathroom with tennis bags so when he opens the door...

...all the bags fall on him! Ha Ha

Lucas Luteran gets new tennis racket for 4th Birthday!!!

Women's Team Rewarded with Paddle Boat Cruise

The women's team enjoyed a paddle boat cruise and tour of historic Conneaut Lake as a reward for being named an ITA All-Academic Team last year. Outings like this are a result of all the hard work they put in on the court and in the class room. Great job ladies!

Men Have Great Showing at ITA!

The six starters on the men's team had the privilege of competing in their first ITA Regional Championships. To add to the excitement, it was held on the same courts where legends like Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe and John McEnroe played while competing in the USTA National Championships--a 67 year old staple of tennis tradition. The boys were honored to be playing at such an historic site, but they didn't let it intimidate them as they had one of the best showings in the history of Allegheny Tennis. See the pics and videos below. To learn more about the history and tradition of the courts at Kalamazoo, click here http://ustaboys.com/tournament_history.html

The boys are all studying while waiting for their next match. This is what Div. III tennis is all about.

Here are the Kalamazoo courts, home of the USTA National Championships.

Max Hennessy gets ready to unload on a serve while playing on one of the feature courts at Stowe Stadium.

Pat Cole and Jonathan Jordan made it all the way to the finals of the Kalamazoo Doubles Tournament!

Uros hits his famous down the line forehand passing shot.

JJ and P-Cole demonstrate their quick hands that took them all the way to the finals.

Max Hennessy slams the ball out of the facility thanks to Uros Predic's perfectly placed serve.

Women's Tennis Blanks Blue Devils

9/24/2010

Box Score

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Friday night saw the best performance of the Allegheny women’s tennis team as they handed the visiting Blue Devils of Fredonia State a clean sweep 9-0 at the Robertson Tennis Complex. Each match was dominated by the Gators and the team match was already decided after Sara Longo (no. 1) and Deb Landau (no. 2) finished their matches in succession and posting identical results (6-0, 6-1).

The only hiccup of the night came in Flight three as Elyse Schmitt dropped the first set 3-6, but rallied in the second set winning 6-0 and forcing the 10-point super-break in lieu of a third set. Schmitt sealed the win, 10-3, in the super-break. This is the first time this season that either tennis program has pulled off a clean sweep of an opponent.

The women head to Moon Township, Pa. October 5th to conclude their fall season as they will take on Division I, Robert Morris University.