CROSSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Wednesday, April 8, John Jay didn’t come away with many wins against Horace Greeley, but there was still plenty of strong tennis on display - and plenty of reasons for optimism.
Matthew Marchini was among the first to see the bigger picture.
“I like that the team is young and gives us a future,” said the senior.
That future includes players like Bradley Dallesandro, who earned high praise from his doubles partner, Hudson Lutz.
“He’s very strong,” said Lutz.
Despite a 6-4, 6-3 loss, Lutz wasn’t discouraged and didn’t blame mechanics.
“I think we got in our heads a little,” said the junior.
Playing together for the first time, the duo also had to build chemistry.
“We had to learn how to get in the flow and move together,” Lutz said. “Once we got it going, it worked really well.”
Their styles complement each other: Lutz prefers to finish points at the net, while Dallesandro sets things up from the baseline.
“He’s got great groundstrokes,” Lutz added.
The middle schooler agreed.
“I’ve got good spin,” said Dallesandro.
That gives him options on offense as well.
“I like attacking the line when they charge the net,” he said.
Looking ahead, Dallesandro knows where he can improve.
“I need to attack and stay at the net more,” he said.
Freshman Tom Partouche is also showing promise, particularly with his forehand.
“It lets me finish the point with my volley,” he said.
Even after a 6-1, 6-0 loss, Partouche remained upbeat, crediting the upperclassmen for their leadership.
“From the older guys, I’ve learned to always stay positive,” he said.
Kalyan Ganesan felt that same energy alongside doubles partner Matthew Neary.
“We kept our enthusiasm up,” Ganesan said.
Their 6-0, 6-3 loss still offered encouragement.
“They were only making one more shot than us, and that decided it,” he said.
The pair showed strong coordination throughout the match.
“I served deep and made it difficult to return,” said Neary, “so he could get an easy volley.”
Neary also appreciates the built-in support of doubles play.
“You always have someone to motivate you,” he said.
On another court, Darren Tang and Tristan Williams echoed that same mindset.
“We worked together to stay positive and keep our heads up,” said Tang.
Their aggressive approach paid dividends during long rallies.
“When we came to the net, we came out victorious, and that feels the greatest,” Tang said.
Their strategy was intentional.
“We force our opponents to target our strengths and not let them go to our weaknesses,” he explained.
Williams emphasized communication and awareness.
“We pay attention to what’s happening on the court and try to coordinate,” he said.
It’s part of what he enjoys most about tennis.
“You have to think a lot, which I enjoy,” Williams said.
That’s especially true in doubles.
“You have to stay connected at all times to win,” he added.
In singles play, Jonathan Marchini battled through a tough tiebreak loss but maintained his energy.
“My energy was very good,” said the junior.
He’s now focused on building stamina.
“I’m a sectionals guy, but I’ve got to get my stamina back,” he said.
Meanwhile, his brother Matthew Marchini played well throughout, though it took a late surge to find his rhythm.
“I stopped caring and was playing loose,” he said after rallying from a 5-2 deficit in the second set.
That set featured a dramatic 10th game, with multiple deuces.
“When in doubt, push it out,” he joked.
The senior also enjoyed the atmosphere as teammates gathered to watch.
“Having everyone on the side while we’re just going at it—it’s fun,” he said.
Though he ultimately fell short, Marchini appreciated the battle.
“He won the chess match,” he said.
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