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Tennis teams clinging to hope for NCAA bids
Men's tennis team claims second NCC title in two years; women place fourth
By Ben Birnell
Published:
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Everything that the SCSU men and women's tennis teams have touched has seemed to come up roses thus far for both teams.
But last weekend would show just how good both squads were as they faced off against the rest of the North Central Conference at the NCC Championships at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Both teams had hopes of snagging the coveted NCC title and a bid to the NCAA Championships in a few weeks.
The SCSU women faired well all season, compiling a record of 21-5, tying the school record for most wins. Coupled with that, the team gained strong play from everyone up and down the lineup as no player had a losing record on the season.
This past weekend, the Huskies had momentum going into the tournament which featured NCC-powerhouse, the University of Northern Colorado. The women ended up on the bright side of things finishing fourth with 50 points in a tough eight-team field.
"We did about as well as we could've expected," women's head coach Larry Sundby said. "Four of the teams in the conference are ranked nationally, so I think we did really well."
Husky co-captain Berit Merrill won her third place match at number one singles defeating Jenni Cartwright of the University of North Dakota in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Unfortunately, that would be all the winning the Huskies would see in the singles division.
Sophomore Nicole Lechner lost her match to UND's Erin Sullivan 6-2, 6-2. Fellow sophomore Sara Eull also come up short losing to UNO's Lindsay Henjum in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. At the number four spot, UNO's Pam Le got the best of Courtney Hover winning 6-1, 6-2. First-year player Nicole Nyberg also lost her match at the number five spot to UNO's Mikayla Spalding 6-4, 6-0. Jodi Pease was defeated by UNC's Erin Cable 6-4, 4-6 (9-8). The Huskies came out on the winning end at the number two doubles spot, as the team of Eull and Hover defeated UND's Jill Wass and Jamie Wald 8-6.
"I'm very proud of Sara, Courtney and Berit," Sundby said. "It's been a long time since we've won an individual title and a doubles title."
Sundby said that in his eyes, Merrill played the best she has all season in her third place match at the number one singles spot. He also said that they edged their opponents out in some aspects of the game, but he also said he thought his team was edged out in certain aspects.
"I think we played really well though," Sundby said. "It was a good finish to our season and we're just hoping for a bid to the NCAA Championships."
On the men's side, things were a little bit more rosy as they brought home their second consecutive and 10th overall NCC title.
"It was a total team effort and very exciting to watch," men's head coach Jerry Anderson said. "It came down to the last few matches played and it was just great to watch all around."
SCSU gained three singles wins to start the weekend off in route to the team title. Freshman Titus Christianson gained his first individual collegiate title beating UNC's Adam Benshoof 6-2, 6-4. Casey Haselwander (Prairie du Sac, Wisc.) completed his career with four NCC singles titles, winning at the number three spot beating UNC's Brian Bishop 6-2, 7-5.
Junior Josh Lunak (Grand Forks, N.D.) won his third straight NCC singles title downing UNC's Matt Bong 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 at the number four spot. UNC's Jim Flanigan would pass Bryan Baumann to claim the number one spot with scores of 6-3, 7-6. Chris Humphrey of UNC defeated Zack Ulwelling 6-4, 6-4 to take the win at the number five singles spot. UNC's Jeff Hall defeated Bob Skenzich, 6-2, 7-6 to take the number six individual spot.
"The entire team knew what they had to do. Obviously, Casey winning his fourth title and setting a record for that is huge. He excels at that position," Anderson said. "Also, seeing Titus win was also good to see."
Anderson said that he was happy with the way the rest of his players also played saying Lunak, Baumann, Ulwelling and Skenzich all played very well and was proud of the way they played.
In the final action of the tournament, SCSU swept all three doubles competitions as Baumann and Skenzich defeated Flanigan and Bong 8-6 at number one doubles. At number two doubles, Christianson and Lunak defeated Bishop and Humphrey 8-5. At number three doubles, Haselwander and Jeff Horner downed UNC's Adam Benschoof and Jim Hall, 9-7.
"Our doubles teams performed very well," Anderson said. "Our teams were ranked lower than the teams we beat, so getting those wins was also a great thing to see. It's a good feeling."
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