Hello: Vlad Stefan and Spencer Newman [Men's Tennis]
The transfer market has come up with some real dandies for the men of the hard court. This summer Michigan welcomes two nationally-ranked singles players to the men's tennis team: Vlad Stefan, formerly of Maryland; and Spencer Newman, formerly of Florida. Both players will be eligible to play in varsity men's tennis matches for Michigan in 2012-13, Stefan as a sophomore and Newman as a junior.
Vlad Stefan is the latest in a long line of Balkan tennis players to take the court for Michigan, the last headliner being of course Matko Maravic. The Romanian native posted a 20-11 record in singles for Maryland this past season as a true freshman, including significant playing time on 2 court. At present Stefan is ranked #97 in ITA men's singles rankings. Stefan will likely compete with Zhu for 3 court honors. It is unfortunate that Maryland is cutting so many varsity sports, including its men's tennis program, but their loss is Michigan's windfall.
Spencer Newman was a fine singles player for Florida through two seasons, posting a 32-9 record. He is ranked #65 at present, which will make him very strong competition for 2 court assuming Petrone continues his upward trajectory.
Don't follow much UM tennis, but were these guys 5 stars?
/s
Pretty much all of Michigan's tennis recruits are blue chips, 5-stars or internationals for both men and women. You basically have to be a 5-star or higher to play at a top 25 school like UM for tennis, otherwise you're looking elsewhere.
Newman was a blue-chip recruit out of high school and Stefan likely would have been as well, but there are no recuiting rankings for international players.
At present Ohio is as formidable as ever in men's tennis, but Chase Buchanan has finally graduated. He and Blaz Rola traded off at 1 and 2 court for Ohio in singles and stayed ranked in the high teens and single-digits the whole time they played. As a doubles team they were ranked #1 in the country and won the NCAA doubles championship this past season, which at least was a break from USC crushing everyone else--USC is a talent bank for men's tennis.
Your other juggernaut, at least in the tournament, is Illinois. They have played Ohio for the tournament championship the last 6 or 7 years in a row.
Ohio won the regular season championship this year but fell in the tournament to Illinois. Michgan finished 2nd in conference and with these two strong transfers entering they will definitely be contenders for B10 titles.
Michigan women's tennis won the regular season title this year but fell to Purdue in the tournament championship 4-3. Emina Betkas is only a freshman but she is ranked in the top 10 already and will be a tremendous asset to the team in the coming years. The big question from the men's point of view is whom to replace Evan King with at 1 court after next season--top 10/high teens-ranked King will be a senior and his long reign of swift justice will finally come to an end.
As for MSU, they are terrible at tennis, I'm sorry to say. Michigan beat them 7-0 in the regular season and 4-1 in the tournament quarterfinals. I fully expect the streak to continue against them next year.
I've noticed that you post a lot about tennis, are you a former Michigan player or do you just have a love for tennis?
The second-string guys on Michigan's team would probably rout me 6-0 6-0 if we were to play a game! I've been going to their matches since I was a student at Michigan and I like filling another niche on the board.
Were they at The Opening?
of them volleying back a punt with their rackets.
Hellooooo, Newman...
It's too bad Vlad Emilien flaked out. Then M could have had two impalerz.
I have been waiting for your tennis post. These transfers are huge news for the mens tennis program and make them at least a top 10 program for next year and a legitimate threat to win the Big Ten. Here are my thoughts.
Vlad Stefan is going to be competing for the #2 spot. He was all ACC as a frosh and played both #1 and #2 although principally at #2. He has some very good victories and has established himself as a minimum #2 in a major tennis conference (ACC) with the likes of Virginia, Duke, etc.
Stefan should compete with Petrone for the #2 spot and I see him giving King some legitimate practice opposition. This is a huge get for UM and gives UM a very strong top
of the lineup. I do believe he will beat out Petrone for the #2 spot.\
I see Bernstein/Newman competing with Petrone at the #3 spot but Petrone settling at the #3 spot and Newman playing the #4/5 and Berstein dropping down to #4/5. Someone is going to be left out because you still have Franks/Buzzi. Buzzi is very valuable at doubles. Unbelieveable depth on this team and wouldn't be surprised to see someone leave unfortunately.
Newman played #2 doubles and believe he rotated at #4 and #5 but principally at #4. I see Newman as better than Franks/Zhu. Bernstein was a pretty mediocre #2 guy and average #3 so don't be surprised to see him drop down to #4 or #5.
Singles lineup prediction.
1. King
2. Stefan
3. Petrone
4. Newman
5. Bernstein
6. Franks
Doubles
1. King/Bernstein
2. Petrone/Stefan
3. Buzzi/Newman
John W.
The interesting thing about this whole team tennis thing is the way even one player can make a HUGE difference. Insert a good #2 in, everyobdy else moves down a spot and suddenly people that were holding their own or better against the #3 players are playing the #4 players and so on down, so adding one guy not only makes that 1 point easier to get but can make all of the points below that spot easier to win as well. Conversely, of course, losing one player and bumping several people up a spot can be a big problem.
As a side note, does anybody know anything about Justin Rossi? He was a freshman in 2010-2011 and played a lot at I think #4, then was injured all this most recent season. Anybody know if he is/will recover enough to play at Michigan again? That could change the line-up even more.
And as another aside, if you've never been to a Michigan tennis match, consider going. Both men's and women's teams do quite well year in and year out, it's completely free to everybody, the facilities are quite nice and it's pretty entertaining. At the very least, both teams boast a top-10 player at the #1 spot in Evan King and Emina Bektas who are both sensational and very fun to watch. It's a little far from campus for students, but if you have an opportunity, it's worth checking out.
Without these guys then UM has in my opinion a
B- top 3. King, Petrone, Bernstein. With Stefan UM has a B+ top 3 because Stefan is a
legitimate/very strong #2 and whoever is #3 becomes an exceptional #3. Combine that
with King at #1 then UM can compete with almost any team in the nation. No weakness
at the top 3. Every point counts the same.
Before Newman I would rank UM a B.
Now, with Newman..it gives UM an equally strong bottom 3 spots. I would rate it a B+.
Before doubles UM is a B+ lineup from 1-6. It doesn't matter if the opponent has an "A" type
1-3 lineup and a B- 4-6 lineup. Each line counts the same and UM is very strong now 1-6.
UM is also very strong in doubles. Stefan and Newman both played #2 doubles so this again makes UM strong up and down the lineup. This doubles point makes the single lineup even more formidable.
I don't think its a stretch to see UM get to the sweet 16 at a minimum. Getting 2 additional players with 'experience' rather than just Frosh being added to the roster. This team has experience and talent.
This program can now compete with OSU with the match at home. Its winnable.
John W.
The last I heard about Rossi is that he isn't ready to play. I only hope that Bernstein is recovered from his torn rotator cuff and able to serve properly again this coming season.
Do their rackets (strings) have wings?
There is a good chance that Rossi will be ready by the Spring season. Newman was ranked as high as #2 in the country by Tennisrecruiting.net and is playing all summer in professional tournaments as are King and Bernstein. Petrone beat Stefan during the regular season last year but Stefan is big and strong and should be certain to make the lineup. Bernstein's shoulder is healed. With this depth an injury next year will not be fateful.
King is certain to be #1. Petrone, Newman, Bernstein, and Sefan will follow but not necessarily in that order. That will be a very solid1 thru 5. Any and all of the rest, Franks, Zhu, Rossi, Buzzi and even Brown can and will win at 6.
The doubles lineup is wide open and is lead by the King/Bernstein tandem which was very successful and ranked in the top 10 nationally until Bernstein was forced to serve underhand for the last half of the season. Newman, Stefan, Buzzi and Zhu have real doubles talent. Franks has a big serve and can also play good doubles. Petrone is just a good player and competitor and is a winner so may make the doubles lineup although I don't think his doubles skills match his singles. He was very successful at #3 doubles with Zhu last year.
If you haven't seen college tennis do come out. It is an amazingly exciting format. Dubs is played first. Three teams go out and each plays one set. The school that wins 2 of those sets gets one point. It very often works out that one match (set) goes to each school and the third match is close. Sometimes it comes downt to a tiebreak in the third match. That point is immense as then 6 singles matches start. If you have won the doubles point you only need to win 3 of the singles matches to win. If you have lost the doubles you must win 4 singles matches.
Generally the schools are well matched and the match doesn't turn until the last minute, Even if the score look overwhelming in favor of one team, at the end you usually don't know who is going to win until the fat lady sings. The guys lay it all out on the line. The crowd gets into it and can be a big factor.
This young team has great character as fighters. I have been watching college tennis closely for 20 years and last years team was high on the list of my favorites. They should be much stronger next year. I can't wait.