Tennis kicks off season in hopes of recapturing championship form
Posted by The Skyliner on February 11th, 2009Paul Conner
Staff Writer
NGU tennis kicked off the 2009 season last Thursday afternoon against Shaw University. The Lady Crusaders triumphed 2-1 in doubles matches and tied 3-3 in singles matches against the Bears. The Crusaders won 2-1 in doubles but fell 1-5 in singles.
“Overall, I’m happy with the way we played,” head coach Mark Elliot said. “We had some close matches, but I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t pull out some more wins. This was a good team, and I’m pleased with the effort.”
Courtney Lynn and Sarah Stanga shut out the Bears 8-0, and Cassie Curtis and Cherie Curtis won their match 8-4. Katherine Shaw and Salem Erni fell 3-8 to Shaw. Lynn, Cassie Curtis, and Stephanie Tyrpak all won their singles matches. Elliot recently called the women’s squad the strongest group he has ever coached at North Greenville. The Lady Crusaders are looking for a return to the playoffs after last year’s exit in pool play.
“It’s a new season, so I don’t have any preconceived ideas about how things will be,” Elliot said. “I’m feeling good about the year.”
Jacob Rogers and Juan Carlos Aguilera battled for a 9-8 victory in doubles, and Gabriel Altmayer and Timor Kamilou defeated the Bears 8-6. William Ho and Guilherme Vasques feel 1-8. Rogers, who prevailed 6-2, 6-1, was the only Crusader to win in singles. Altmayer lost his match in a tiebreaker.
The match was his first since returning to North Greenville. Last year, Altmayer was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the immune system and returned to his hometown in Brazil to undergo chemotherapy. He was declared cancer-free last summer and has since reenrolled at North Greenville.
“It felt good to get back on the court,” Altmayer said. “It was tough getting my rhythm back, but Timor and I were able to hold our serve.”
Altmayer still goes in for monthly treatment as part of the ongoing healing process. Having won seven consecutive NCCAA National Championships heading into the 2008 season, without Altmayer the Crusaders were knocked out in the semifinal round last May.
“It’s a big lift for our club having him back,” Elliot said. “He’s an important leader for us, and we really missed him last year. It was a tough summer for Gabriel because as soon as he was declared cancer-free, his mom was diagnosed, and she passed away not long after that.”
The men’s and women’s teams will play their next home match at the Greer Tennis Center against Lander on Feb. 14.