Both ACU teams roll into LSC championship matches
4/24/2009 3:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
WICHITA FALLS -- The ACU men's and women's tennis teams each advanced to Friday's championship matches at the Lone Star Conference championship tournament, and both will be in rematches of last year's title matches.
The ACU women rolled past past both Southeastern Oklahoma State (8-0) and Central Oklahoma (5-0) to coast into Friday's championship match. Perhaps surprisingly, the Wildcats will take on Tarleon State, a 5-4 winner over Northeastern State, which entered the match as the No. 2 team in the NCAA Division II Central Region, one spot behind the Wildcats.
The Wildcats (23-5 on the season and ranked No. 7 in the nation) will take on the TexAnns at 9 a.m. Friday at the Hamilton Park Tennis Center to decide the LSC champion. ACU smoked the TexAnns, 5-0, in last year's championship match and just beat Tarleton, 9-0, on March 27 in Abilene.
The ACU men had to win just one match on Thursday, and the Wildcats were successful with a 5-1 win over East Central that pushed their record to 24-7 on the season. The Wildcats will take on defending LSC champion Cameron in a rematch of last year's title match.
The Aggies won their first LSC tennis championship last year with a 5-0 win over the Wildcats at ACU's Eager Tennis Center. The Aggies and Wildcats will play at 9 a.m. Friday at the Hamilton Park Tennis Center.
The Wildcats won two of three doubles matches against East Central with the No. 1 team of Ryan Hudson and Luke Hawk and No. 3 team of Eldad Campbell and Juan Nunez each winning.
The Wildcats had little trouble in singles with Hawk, Bryan Joiner and Hudson each winning in straight sets to help the Wildcats advance to the title match. The Aggies own a 7-2 win over ACU on March 31 in Abilene, but ACU head coach Hutton Jones is excited to have another shot at the league's defending champion.
"This is the match that everybody thought would be the one to decide the conference championship, and we're glad to be in it," Jones said of the men's title match. "This one will be to decide who wants to be the No. 1 team in the region and host a regional, and hopefully our guys want it more than their guys. I think it should be a great match."
On the women's side, the Wildcats barely broke a sweat against the Savage Storm and the Bronchos. ACU did not lose a set in either match, and its closest match of the day was at No. 1 doubles against UCO where Dina Pavlin and Jaclyn Walker teamed to beat Audrey Donovan and Lacy Caldwell, 9-8.
"I really like the way we're playing," Jones said. "We're playing with a lot of confidence, and that's how you want to be playing going into the post-season."
LONE STAR CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
WOMEN
Thursday, April 23
Quarterfinals
Abilene Christian 8, Southeastern Oklahoma State 0
Singles -- Irene Squillaci, ACU, def. Deana Brooks, SOSU, 6-1, 6-0; Sarah Drummond, ACU, def. Jenny Paine, SOSU, 6-2, 6-3; Jaclyn Walker, ACU, def. Mayra Leal, SOSU, 6-0, 6-1; Cassie Carver, ACU, def. Ashley Grayson, SOSU, 6-2, 6-2; Dina Pavlin, ACU, def. Sofia Molina, SOSU, 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles -- Dina Pavlin-Jaclyn Walker, ACU, def. Jenny Paine-Mayra Leal, SOSU, 8-2; Irene Squillaci-Cassie Carver, ACU, def. Deana Brooks-Ashley Grayson, SOSU, 8-0; Lauren White-Sarah Drummond, ACU, def. Sofia Molina-Sara Schmidt, SOSU, 8-1.
Semifinals
Abilene Christian 5, Central Oklahoma 0
Singles -- Cassie Carver, ACU, def. Elizabeta Abramovic, UCO, 6-2, 6-2; Dina Pavlin, ACU, def. Lacy Caldwell, UCO, 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles -- Dina Pavlin-Jaclyn Walker, ACU, def. Audrey donovan-Lacy Caldwell, UCO, 9-8; Irene Squillaci-Cassie Carver, ACU, def. Julia Shviadok-Elizabeta Abramovic, UCO, 8-2; Lauren White-Sarah Drummond, UCO, def. Julie Vo-Amy Cabato, UCO, 8-4.
MEN
Thursday, April 23
Semifinals
Abilene Christian 5, East Central 1
Singles -- Ryan Hudson, ACU, def. Camilo Munoz, ECU, 6-4, 6-2; Luke Hawk, ACU, def. Mitch Sholty, ECU, 6-1, 6-0; Bryan Joiner, ACU, def. Dai Edwardes-Evans, ECU, 6-0, 6-3.
Doubles -- Ryan Hudson-Luke Hawk, ACU, def. Camilo Munoz-Cristobal Nunez, ECU, 8-4; Andres Nunez-Dai Edwardes-Evans, ECU, def. Bryan Joiner-Hutton Jones Jr., ACU, 8-6; Eldad Campbell-Juan Nunez, ACU, def. Mitch Sholty-Carlos Muro, ECU, 8-4.
