By Rahul Shah

This weekend featured the first test for Binghamton University’s men’s tennis team. Over 17 schools, including the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, who ranked second and 26th in the nation respectively, participated in this year’s University of Virginia Invitational. Even while playing amid a wide field, the Bearcats managed to hold their own in their first tournament.

BU sophomore Sven Vloedgraven, the team’s best player last season, went 1-1 in the B singles flight, and was eliminated by Luka Somen of Virginia Tech. Sophomore counterpart Arnav Jain, named Most Outstanding Player of the America East Championship last year, fared slightly better in the C singles flight.

Jain advanced all the way to the finals, where he lost to Sander Gille of Eastern Tennessee.

“Arnav didn’t play much over the summer because of some arm trouble,” said head coach Adam Cohen. “For him to go out there and play well, it was good to see.”

These two stars teamed up in the A doubles flight and dropped their only two matches.

Gilbert Wong contributed right away toward the team’s success. Wong, in his first competition as a Bearcat, played in the D singles flight and was spectacular. He advanced all the way to the finals, where he beat Arie Hefter of Davidson. The strong performance did not go unnoticed.

“Gilbert played well,” Cohen said. “He could have played in a higher flight, but I was happy to see him getting back in the swing of things.”

Later, Wong teamed up with a fellow freshman, Darren Ng, in the B doubles flight. Like their older teammates, they were unable to win in their two matches.

Cohen intends to improve the team by learning from tournaments such as the Virginia Invitational.

“In practice we want to work on our weaknesses and develop our strengths,” he said. “I see how they perform under pressure in tournaments, and then work [accordingly] in practice.”

The Bearcats head down to Flushing for the USTA National Tennis Center Invitational this weekend.