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Last Updated: May 14th, 2009 - 10:48:29 |
ABILENE, Texas -- The third time was not the charm for the SBU Bearcats. For the third time this season, the SBU men's tennis team fell to the Washburn Ichabods 5-4 in a dual match. This time the teams met in the preliminary round of the NCAA South Central Region #1.
The first meeting came on April 11 in Bolivar. The second came on April 26 in the MIAA championship match in Kansas City. The third meeting came Thursday on the campus of the host and top-seeded Abilene Christian at the Eager Tennis Center, with daytime temperatures reaching 100 degrees.
SBU picked a doubles win at #1 with Marton Zsiga and Emilio El Alabi, but trailed 2-1 heading to singles action. #21 SBU got straight set victories from seniors El Alabi and Agustin Mollar, along with MIAA Freshman of the Year Jorge Margiotta. But MIAA MVP Marton Zsiga, after winning their two previous matchups, fell to WU's Branden Joost 6-4, 6-2. SBU freshman Tyler Welch also fell to WU's Adam Rens.
Just as it did for the MIAA championship, the match came down to number five singles between SBU freshman Jorge Palacios and WU junior Yann Kasay. Kasay won the first set 6-1 and led 5-2 in the second and was serving for the match. Palacios rallied to win the next five games to force a third and deciding set. A 6-1 win in the third set by Kasay won the match for the Ichabods.
"This was another good match between two evenly matched teams," said head coach John Bryant. "Washburn got to five and we didn't. The heat was a factor, but it affected both teams. This is a heart-breaking way to end, especially for our two seniors (El Alabi and Mollar). We would have like to advanced a few rounds further, but it ends like this for all but one team."
The Bearcats end their season at 15-9. #33 Washburn (13-5) advances to play top-seeded Abilene Christian for the regional title at noon on Friday, May 8. The winner advances to the NCAA Final 16 in Altamonte Springs, Florida. South Central Region #2 was hosted by second-seeded Cameron University, with the winner of Thursday's match between St. Edwards and Northwest Missouri State taking on Cameron for the title and a spot in the Final 16.
Southwest Baptist University vs Washburn University
May 07, 2009 at Abilene, Texas
#4 Washburn 5, #5 Southwest Baptist 4
Singles competition
1. Branden Joost (WU) def. Marton Zsiga (SBU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Emilio El Alabi (SBU) def. Simon Blondin (WU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Agustin Mollar (SBU) def. Ryan Ward (WU) 6-0, 6-2
4. Jorge Margiotta (SBU) def. Drew Hanson (WU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Yann Kasay (WU) def. Jorge Palacios (SBU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
6. Adam Rens (WU) def. Tyler Welch (SBU) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Marton Zsiga/Emilio El Alabi (SBU) def. Branden Joost/Brad Johnston (WU) 8-6
2. Ryan Ward/Drew Hanson (WU) def. Agustin Mollar/Jorge Margiotta (SBU) 8-5
3. Simon Blondin/Yann Kasay (WU) def. Jorge Palacios/Tyler Welch (SBU) 8-6
Match Notes:
Southwest Baptist University 15-9; National ranking #21; Regional ranking #5
Washburn University 13-5; National ranking #33; Regional ranking #4
© Copyright 2007-2009 Southwest Baptist University
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