LI’s Rubin Falls in NCAA Final as Loeb Takes Women’s Title

May 26, 2015 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Noah_Rubin (7)
Photo credit: Calvin Rhoden

Long Island native Noah Rubin’s outstanding freshman campaign at Wake Forest brought him all the way to the NCAA Division I Singles Championship, but came up a bit short against Virginia’s Ryan Shane, who outlasted Rubin 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-1.

Rubin led 5-0 in the opening set before a rain delay saw the match suspended and moved inside. His lead would drop to 5-3, but closed the door on the first frame 6-3.

In the second set, after the match was moved inside, Rubin looked to be in prime position to become a national champion. He led 5-4 and was on serve, but Shane would not go down quietly.  He came up with a clutch break to even the set at 5-5 and eventually force a tiebreaker, which he would win 7-4 to send the match to a deciding third set.

With momentum in his corner, Shane broke Rubin to open up the third set and never looked back. He would go on to win the set 6-1 and capture the National Championship.

“After the first set, I came out definitely a little slow, and he was on his game, not missing anything,” said Shane, who also helped Virginia capture the team national championship last week. “I was trying to stay calm, but I was a little too calm, so I tried to bring more energy in the second set, and it paid off throughout the match.”

Rubin was the first Demon Deacon ever to play for the singles national title. He knocked off Shane at first singles in the ACC team finals last week, but was unable to repeat the task on Memorial Day.

“He got the rhythm easier inside. He hits a tremendous ball,” said Rubin. “I can run down more balls outside. Inside, he just goes for anything, it seemed like he was hoping for the best and it was going in. I should be able to serve it out at 5-4 anyway. That’s my problem and I have to deal with that.”

While Rubin came up just short in his match, another student of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy brought home a national championship on Monday as North Carolina’s Jamie Loeb from Ossining, N.Y. knocked off Stanford’s Carol Zhao 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 to capture the title.

“I’m speechless. It feels amazing. Last year I was a little disappointed,” said Loeb, who reached the quarterfinals a year ago as a freshman. “To finish the way I did is just an amazing feeling.”

Loeb capitalized on her chances in the third set to steal momentum back after Zhao won a tight second set.

The winner of the singles title usually is granted a bid into the main draw of the U.S. Open, something that would be a dream come true for Loeb.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing in the U.S. Open,” Loeb told Zoo Tennis. “I’m from New York, I live like 30 minutes away from the National Tennis Center. I’ve played in qualies one time, but playing in the main draw … it’s just an amazing feeling.”


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Bethpage
Oneononedoubles banner art resize

March/April 2024 Digital Edition