The NCAA News - News and Features

May 5, 1997

Division III

UC Santa Cruz seeks third straight

Event: 1997 Division III Men's Tennis Championships.

Overview: UC Santa Cruz has won the last two team titles and looks to become only the second team in championships history to win three in a row. The Banana Slugs, who have finished first or second at seven of the last eight championships (winning three), are led by Brian Cummings, Josh Goodly and Thomas Oechel. Cummings and Oechel combine to form the Banana Slugs' No. 1 doubles team .... UC Santa Cruz will face strong challenges on all fronts in its bid for a third championship. Kalamazoo, Emory, Washington (Maryland), Gustavus Adolphus, Williams and Redlands all have viable shots at the top spot. Seven-time champion Kalamazoo, which placed third in 1996, is vying to return to the winner's circle after a three-year hiatus. The Hornets boast a lineup led by veterans Pat Noud and Adam Norlander. Noud teams with Chris Kennelly on the squad's No. 1 doubles team, while Norlander combines with Dan Harding .... Washington (Maryland), which claimed the 1994 title, has its sights set on adding its second championship. The Sho'men are experienced and talented with a lineup that includes Damian Polla, the 1995 singles champion; Miroslav Beren; and Michael Kember .... Emory, which placed second in 1996, is led by veterans James Oliviero and Jed Weinstein, while Gustavus Adolphus, fourth in 1996, returns Todd Bowlby, 1996 singles runner-up; Adam Beduhn; and Noel Stout.

Field: Four regional tournaments each will involve a minimum of six and a maximum of 12 teams. The two finalists at each regional site will advance to the eight-team finals. The individual championships will include 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams. Eight singles players and four doubles teams will be selected from each region.

Dates and sites: Regional tournaments will be May 9-11 at four sites. The championships will be May 16-21 at Washington and Lee. The team championship will be May 16-18; single and doubles championships will be May 19-21.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3060 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 1541 for dates and sites, 1542 for bracket/ schedule, 5234 for qualifiers, 5235 through 5237 for team results, and 5238 through 5240 for individual results. Regional and championships results also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Championships results will be published in the May 19 (regional tournaments) and June 2 (finals) issues of The NCAA News.