ABILENE – For the fifth consecutive year the ACU men will appear in the NCAA Division II national championship tennis tournament after knocking off Cameron for the third time this season, 5-2 in Monday's NCAA Division II South Central Region Championship in the Teague Special Events Center.
It was not an easy win, but the Wildcats were able to knock off Cameron for the third time in as many tries on Monday. Rain and cold weather that moved into the area on Sunday and lingered through Monday morning forced play inside.
ACU was pushed in nearly every match as it took a 2-1 lead into singles play picking up wins at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles. The Wildcats took No. 1 singles with freshman
Hans Hach winning, 6-4, 6-4, but at No. 2 singles the Aggies would pull back within one point.
The best match of the day, however, was at No. 3 singles, which drew a crowd on the near court. The fans saw ACU's
Alfredo Desiati knock off Manuel Barroetavena, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Desiati excited the crowd with a between-the-legs shot right before winning the final point to put the Wildcats within one point of taking the championship.
ACU was able to close out the match and advance thanks to a win at No. 4 singles from
Jake Hendrie over Nicolas Clerc, 6-3, 6-4.
The Wildcats will advance to the national tournamentin Altamonte Springs, Fla., for the fifth consecutive year. ACU still awaits its first-round opponent, which will be the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic Region, either Bluefield State College or Shaw University. Play begins May 11 with the championship match set for May 14.
#7 Abilene Christian 5, #19 Cameron 2
May 02, 2011 at Abilene, TX (Eager Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Hans Hoch (ACUM) def. Santiago Romero (CU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Thomas Peixoto (CU) def.
Eldad Campbell (ACUM) 7-6, 7-6
3.
Alfredo Desiati (ACUM) def. Manuel Barroetavena (CU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
4. Jake Hendire (ACUM) def. Nicolas Clerc (CU) 6-3, 6-4
5.
Bryan Joiner (ACUM) vs. Duje Janjic (CU) unfinished
6.
John Strahl (ACUM) vs. Patrick Eichler (CU) unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Jake Hendire/Hans Hoch (ACUM) def. Santiago Romero/Nicolas Clerc (CU) 8-3
2. Thomas Peixoto/Patrick Eichler (CU) def.
Bryan Joiner/
Eldad Campbell (ACUM) 8-4
3.
Alfredo Desiati/
Nick Plum (ACUM) def. Duje Janjic/Jeff Sasser (CU) 9-7
