Princeton sent six players to the tournament that lasted from Thursday to Tuesday. While senior captain Peter Capkovic fought his way to the singles quarterfinals, fellow senior captain Alex Vuckovic and Capkovic paired up to reach the doubles quarterfinals. The third senior captain, Alex Krueger-Wyman, was out with a shoulder injury.
“Our performances this fall have been a little bit up and down, but this was a good step in the direction that we wanted to go,” head coach Glenn Michibata said.
Aside from the veterans Capkovic and Vuckovic, junior George Carpeni, sophomores Ryan Kim and Alex Faust, and freshman Ravi Yegya-Raman all competed in the singles draw. Faust and Carpeni also teamed up for competition in the doubles bracket.
While Yegya-Raman and Kim did not make it past the first round in the main singles draw, Vuckovic and Faust each posted a victory before getting knocked out in Saturday’s second round. Carpeni, however, battled it out until a disappointing third-round loss Sunday.
“[Carpeni] was playing against a player that he should’ve beaten,” Michibata said. “He was nervous and not playing well under pressure.”
In doubles, in which Capkovic and Vuckovic made it to the quarterfinals, Faust and Carpeni lost in the first round to host Yale.
Capkovic led the charge with performances that showed a significant break from his recent history. Before this weekend, the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year was 1-7 in singles matches this fall. At Yale, however, Capkovic won three before losing a close 7-6, 6-7, 6-1 match to Columbia’s Bogden Borta.
“Capkovic is playing good tennis,” Michibata said. “He’s been struggling a bit, [but] in this tournament, he was back to the form that won him Player of the Year last year. Even though he didn’t win … he competed really well.”
After a bye in Friday’s first round, Capkovic defeated three players Saturday and Sunday to make it to Monday’s quarterfinal match. Capkovic stayed close with Borta in the first two sets ? losing the first on a questionable call ? before exhaustion set in during the third.
“In the first two sets, he outplayed his opponent,” Michibata said. “In the third set, he got a little tired … It was getting to Peter’s legs, and he ended up losing. In my opinion, he was playing good enough tennis to win the tournament.”
As the top-seeded payer on the Tigers’ roster, Capkovic sets an example for the team.
“One thing we hope to have as an advantage is if you have the best player at No. 1 in the region, you have a great confidence,” Michibata said. “If he keeps playing like this, we’ll get that back.”
Michibata noted that this weekend marked improvement for the team and showed promise for the season.
“Each time that we play, it gives us a better picture of the areas we need to improve in and what we’re good at,” Michibata said. “[I’m] actually feeling pretty good about where we are. The things we need to work on are fixable.”
One thing that the team needs to fix is its physical health. Six players on the 13-man roster are injured, including Capkovic, Krueger-Wyman and Vuckovic, three of the team’s top players.
Krueger-Wyman is rehabbing his shoulder, Vuckovic has a stress fracture, and Capkovic is struggling with a persistent back injury. Additionally, Capkovic injured his heel this past weekend but played through the pain.
With most injuries in the rehabilitation phase, however, Michibata is optimistic for the rest of the season.
“I’m really looking forward to the next few months,” Michibata said.
Read More
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.