May 11, 2006

Midwestern State Too Much for Clippers

May 11, 2006

Midwestern State Too Much for Clippers

The Concordia College men's tennis team was defeated in the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Championships Round of 16 by the Indians of Midwestern State University 5-2 yesterday in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Clippers started out strong in the doubles portion of the match, taking the #2 and #3 doubles flights. The team of Rodrigo Teixeira (Vittoria, Brazil) and Marcelo Froes (Vittoria, Brazil) were able to defeat Charles Van Swelm and Gene Ligeon 8-5 at #2 doubles. Tufan Oztug (Istanbul, Turkey) and Sabyasachi Bose (Calcutta, India) also teamed together for an 8-6 victory over Jared King and Stefan McKinney at #3 doubles. Midwestern State's duo of Brett Emerson and Zachary Dillard defeated Kirill Azovtsev (St. Petersburg, Russia) and Vladimir Malkin (Cologne, Germany) 8-2.

With a 2-1 advantage heading into the singles portion, the Clippers were looking to advance to the Quarterfinal Round by taking 3 of the 6 singles flights. However, that would not be the case, as the Indians would win four of the six singles flights in straight sets to claim victory over the Clippers. The best singles match was at #1 singles, where Emerson defeated Teixeira 7-5 and 6-1. Both players are ranked nationally. Emerson is ranked 26th in the nation and Teixeira is ranked 47th in the nation. Teixeira's doubles partner, Marcelo Froes also lost in straight sets to Emerson's doubles partner, Zachary Dillard, 6-0 and 6-3. At #2 singles, McKinney topped Josep Molet (Barcelona, Spain) 6-2 and 6-3 and at #6 singles, John Cassas (Bogota, Columbia) lost to Jared King 6-3 and 6-3. Azovtsev and Malkin were unable to complete their matches.

Concordia finishes the 2006 season with a record of 16-8 and ranked 35th in the nation. Midwestern State improves to 18-4 and is currently ranked 20th in the nation. Midwestern State will move on to the Quarterfinals to play the Fighting Knights of Lynn University, who is ranked 5th nationally.

#20 Midwestern State 5, #35 Concordia 2

Singles
1. Brett Emerson (MSU) def. Rodrigo Teixeira (CC)
7-5, 6-1

2. Stefan McKinney (MSU) def. Josep Molet (CC)
6-2, 6-3

3. Kirill Azotsev (CC) vs. Charles Van Swelm (MSU)
3-6, 3-5, unfinished

4. Vlad Malkin (CC) vs. Gene Ligeon (MSU)
6-4, 4-5, unfinished

5. Zachary Dillard (MSU) def. Marcelo Froes (CC)
6-0, 6-3

6. Jared King (MSU) def. John Cassas (CC)
6-3, 6-3


Doubles
1. Brett Emerson/Zachary Dillard (MSU) def. Kirill Azotsev/Vlad Malkin (CC)
8-2

2. Rodrigo Teixeira/Marcelo Froes (CC) def. Charles Van Swelm/Gene Ligeon (MSU)
8-5

3. Tufan Oztug/Sabyasachi Bose (CC) def. Jared King/Stefan McKinney (MSU)
8-6