Amelia Galin and Benito Vlassis have helped lead the Raiders to a strong start in the spring.

The Colgate tennis teams are midway through the spring season, with each squad achieving measurable success that has coaches and student-athletes optimistic of a top four finish. 

On the men's side, a 6-1 win over Siena on Feb. 15 proved to be a significant moment for the Raiders. When both programs last met in 2023, Colgate had to endure a lopsided 7-0 defeat.

For Colgate to bounce back with a dominant win in such a short time was further proof that the program was on the upswing after a few tough seasons.

“It’s a big turnaround,” said head coach Bobby Pennington. “The goal is to have as many wins for the men as we did the last two seasons combined, and I think they are well on their way to a winning record and hopefully a top-four seed in the tournament.”

The men had a record of 6-5 as of March 10. The last two seasons, the Raiders finished at 6-14 and 5-15, respectively. 

Another big moment for the men came on March 8, when Colgate notched a 5-2 win over Le Moyne. It was the first time the Raiders bested the Dolphins in five years. 

There are multiple reasons for the men’s improved play. First and foremost is the roster, which is heavy with veterans who have evolved with experience. Meanwhile, strong contributions have come from younger members of the team.

Co-captain Benito Vlassis, who plays at No. 1, said his fellow co-captains and seniors in Josh Israel and Ben Graham are playing the best tennis he’s seen. A humble mindset, a deep roster, and improved culture have also made an impact.

Addie Eklund and Rebecca Hess celebrate during a match.

“We came in this season trying to stay focused on tennis and not let the outside noise get to us,” Vlassis said. “Our team also has immense depth this year and that keeps the whole team hungry to get into the line up and make a difference. Lastly, our culture on the team is definitely a strength as we have a tight-knit group of guys who all mesh well and want to see each other succeed which is all we could ask for.”

Vlassis also credited the support from co-captain Mikey Weitz, who was injured to start the season but made an impact by acting as an extra coach, offering insight to teammates while keeping the energy of the team high. 

Another factor for Colgate’s success is the play of student-athletes slotted lower down on the lineup. One example is sophomore Jerome Falcon, who  has shined at the fifth and sixth spots. He was 7-2 in singles and 8-1 in doubles as of March 7. First-years Tim Viding and Lochlan Seth have also provided a big boost. 

The Colgate tennis teams play most of their home games at Drumlins Country Club in Syracuse, N.Y., although practices are generally held on campus. This season, however, the majority of the practices were held at Drumlins. 

Pennington said this switch has made a difference, allowing his teams to become more comfortable with the surfaces at Drumlins.

Meanwhile, the women stood at 7-6 as of March 10, earning big wins over opponents like Hofstra and Wagner while playing a tough schedule. 

Pennington, now in his 19th season at Colgate, said the women's squad might be the most talented he’s ever coached in maroon-and-white. Leading Colgate at No. 1 and No. 2 are Amelia Galin and Sophia Montero, who have winning records in singles and doubles. 

Senior Josh Israel has played his best tennis for Colgate this year.

“We have an outstanding one and two,” Pennington said. “We are able to compete with the top teams at the top of the lineup, plus we are able to hang down low. On paper, from top to bottom, from No. 1 down, it’s the most talented I’ve had.”

Pennington also credited the play of Addie Eklund and Eliza Podlas — who are co-captains and seniors — and first-year Rebecca Hess. They help make up a well-balanced squad with five sophomores and first-years.

The women have battled through a tough non-conference schedule that includes matches against Dartmouth, Rhode Island, and Seton Hall. 

And unlike before, this will be the first time the women play all eight Patriot League teams. They’re only required to play five, but Pennington said he wants the team to face the whole conference so that the Raiders are better prepared for the postseason.

“I think it’s important for them to see everybody,” Pennington said. “I wanted to make it a point to play everybody so that you can’t have a problem where you’re seeded.”

Eklund, a senior, said the tough schedule has pushed the team to play at a high level.

"We have come out strong, beating teams who we lost to last year and putting up competitive scores against the best in the league. Our challenging starting schedule will prepare us to do well in league play in the next couple weeks where every match will require us to bring our best game. 

“Going into league play, we’re hoping to take all the remaining matches as they are all winnable. Nothing will be easy as other teams are also improved from last year but our talent and team camaraderie set us up for a promising end of the season.”