May 9, 2008
Northwest Falls To Washburn in Regional Final
MARYVILLE, Mo.—Washburn swept doubles play and got singles wins from top players Rutger Vliegenberg and Ryan Ward to upset top-ranked Northwest Missouri State in the championship match of the North Central Men’s Tennis Regional Friday at Frank Grube Courts.
Washburn (14-6) advances to the round of 16 held in Houston, Texas, May 14-17. The Bearcats’ season ends without a trip to nationals for the first time in three seasons.
Friday’s championship was a rematch of a highly-contested regular season dual between the two teams.
Exactly one month to the day, Washburn took two of three doubles matches, but couldn’t hold the lead and eventually lost 5-4 to Northwest. Friday, the Ichabods got all three doubles points and held on for the win.
Vliegenberg and Ward, who won in straight sets back in April, needed a third set to earn their team’s final two points Friday. Vliegenberg held off Vigit Sehgal 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Ward defeated Jake Saulsbury 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
Northwest (16-7) scored wins at No. 3 and No. 4 singles. Daniel Usieto defeated Nathan Martin 6-3, 6-2. Felipe Gennari beat Drew Hanson 6-4, 6-2. The final two singles matches had just gotten underway when Washburn scored the decisive point.
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