2018-19 Schedule | 2018-19 Roster | 2018-19 Statistics
BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The Concordia College New York men's tennis team defended its position atop the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Eastern Region during the 2018-19 season, going undefeated against regional opposition highlighted by an unblemished 8-0 mark in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) play to claim its ninth Conference Championship Title while advancing to the NCAA National Tournament Round of 16 behind an 18-4 overall record.
The Clippers wasted no time flexing its muscles, with sophomore Michele Fenoaltea (Rome Italy) becoming the first member of the men's tennis program to claim both the singles and doubles titles at the annual Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Regional since 2012 in the team's first action of the fall. Fenoaltea went 7-0 in the singles draw while boasting five-consecutive triumphs in the doubles bracket alongside senior Eymeric Chevalier (Bordeux, France) to claim both crowns. The pair advanced to the ITA Cup to take on the other seven regional champions, with the duo finishing seventh in the doubles tournament while Fenoaltea placed seventh in singles.
Opening the spring season with a four-match split against non-Division II foes in Division I's University of Delaware, St. Francis Brooklyn College, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Manhattanville College from Division III, Concordia next traveled to Orlando, Fla., for a four-game slate. The Clippers went 3-1 during its time in the Sunshine State, besting Assumption College, University of Findlay and Grand Valley State University while ending the excursion with a 4-3 setback to NCAA Tournament participant Flagler College.
Concordia returned north with eight-straight 7-0 victories, seven against CACC opposition, with the stretch halted by a 4-2 triumph against Queens College (N.Y.). The Clippers wrapped up its CACC slate with a 7-0 triumph over Chestnut Hill College, besting the Griffins again in the CACC Championship Final 4-0 for the program's ninth CACC banner since joining the league during the 2009-10 academic year. The regular season concluded at home against New York Tech, a 6-1 victory for Concordia.
The Clippers' postseason journey began at home, as Concordia hosted the NCAA East Region #1 bracket. Concordia advanced to the Round of 16 behind a 4-0 victory against Chestnut Hill in the Regional Final, with the postseason run ending in a 4-1 setback against Southwest Baptist University.
Fenoaltea and freshman Jan Godfrey Seno (Cebu City, Philippines) both recorded 21 triumphs in singles play during the 2018-19 season, with Godfrey Seno boasting an undefeated 18-0 mark during the spring. Chevalier won a team-best 19 matches in doubles action, splitting his doubles time alongside Fenoaltea and sophomore Henry Masters (Northampton, England).
Chevalier was named the CACC Player of the Year prior to the Championship Final, with head coach Neil Tarangioli receiving Coach of the Year distinction. Fenoaltea joined Chevalier on the CACC All-Conference First Team while Godfrey Seno, Masters and sophomore William Nilsson (Bastad, Sweden) all received Second-Team honors. For their work in the classroom, Masters, senior Lars Olson (Chatham, N.Y.) and sophomore Tomer Mendler (Tel Aviv, Israel) all landed on the CACC All-Academic Team.
Nilsson was honored by the ITA following the season, being named the East Region Player to Watch. Fenoaltea, Masters, Mendler, Nilsson and Olson all received ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades, leading the program to the ITA Team Academic Award.
Four different Clippers were named the CACC Player of the Week during the spring, with Nilsson getting the nod on Feb. 11, Masters on Feb. 25, Fenoaltea on Mar. 11 and April 22 and Chevalier on Mar. 25 while Fenoaltea also earned Player of the Month honors on Oct. 3. Godfrey Seno compiled a pair of Rookie of the Week plaudits on Mar, 25 and April 22, with Freshman Maximilian Grundmann (Schwerte, Germany) earning the distinction on Feb. 25.
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