Rams Tennis Beats Ridgefield to Start Tough Week

When the Rams boys tennis team looked at the schedule at the start of the season the week of May 10 got their attention. They face their top three opponents in three days this week.

New Canaan took care of the first hurdle on Monday with a 5-2 win over Ridgefield at the New Canaan High School courts.

The Rams won four of the five singles matches and split the two doubles.

Ben Lee at No. 1 singles was at the top if his game against a good player, Zach Passman. Lee beat him 6-0, 6-0 in what was arguably his most "complete" match this season. Lee was firing on all cylinders—serve, return of serve, ground strokes, approach shots, overheads, and he threw in a new shot which he used judiciously.

Lee would show drop shot on a mid court ball and at the last moment simply push the ball deep after Passman had to honor the dropper by starting to come in. Usually, a drop shot is the end result of a fake ground stroke. Lee looked very comfortable with the fake followed by the execution.

Most other matches were very competitive. At No. 2 singles, Chase Urban pulled out a win in the third set over a very promising freshman, Arnaud Valentin. After splitting the first two sets, 6-4, 2-6, Urban pulled away in the third to win at 6-1.

"I really focused extra hard in the third set after losing it somewhat in the second set," Urban said. "The wind was really difficult but, as Coach Borgman reminded me, I made the wind my friend. That got my opponent frustrated and that's when I knew I could pull it out."

Third singles had a "play-of-the-day" match-ender. Kevin Budrawich held a match point against Shane Lovallo when Budrawich came to net. Lovallo hit a perfect lob, chasing Budrawich back a step or so past the baseline. The Rams senior, with his back to the net went between his legs and hit a hard return right up the middle which Lovallo returned. Budrawich recovered and then hit a more classic forehand to win the match. Lovallo simply smiled. Budrawich won 6-3, 6-4 against a very tough player.

Nick Laub won his match at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 6-2 over Adam Beizer and on the adjacent court, Adam's identical twin brother, Keith, beat Will Burger in one of the most competitive matches of the day, 7-5, 6-7, and 10-5 in the Super Tiebreak.

In No. 1 doubles, Ridgefield's Greg Jacob and Oliver Murray also won a Super Tiebreak over Patrick Newton and Peter Huff, 3-6, 7-5,10-4.

At No. 2 doubles, Connor Hedley anbd Steve Evans beat Mike DePrima and Soichi Hirowaka, 6-1, 6-2.

The Rams (14-1) face the unbeaten Wreckers (11-0) at Staples Tuesday.