May 6, 2006
Bearcat Men Take Down Washburn 5-2 in Regional Final; Head to Nationals May 10-13
Courtesy of Washburn Sports Information Office TOPEKA, Kan. – (stats) After dropping the three doubles matches and losing a singles match by medical default, the Washburn Ichabods fought back but were defeated 5-2 by Northwest Missouri State in the NCAA North Central Region men’s tennis tournament final. The Bearcats, 13-9, advance to the national tournament in Kansas City, Mo., to take on the Rockhurst-Drury winner in the round of 16. Washburn, which defeated Northwest earlier to claim the MIAA tournament championship, finished its season at 17-6.After spotting the Bearcats a 4-0 lead with the doubles sweep and Andrew Plum’s medical default, the Ichabods took two points with Rutger Vliegenberg’s 7-6, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles against Pablo Acebedo and Drew Hanson’s 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 win over Daniel Isieto at No. 4.
The Bearcats clinched the dual win at the No. 2 spot when Henrique Tomaz beat Washburn’s Nathan Martin 6-3, 6-4.
NWMSU was not able to breeze through its sweep of doubles. Chris Smith and Acebedo topped Vliegenberg/Plum 8-6 at No. 1 and Jake Salsbury and Isieto beat Brad Johnston and Martin 8-6. The No. 3 team of Lucas Ariboni and Tomaz set down Tyler Kinder and Blake Edwards 8-4.
The men will join the women at Nationals as both teams compete together for the first time since 2002. The 2006 venue is the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Mo. Action lasts from May 10-13.
 |
|
 |