The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- May 24, 1999

Lander's dominance in men's tennis reaches seven straight

Lander captured its seventh consecutive Division II Men's Tennis Championship by defeating Barry, 5-1, in a repeat match-up of last year's championship teams. Lander won its title by sweeping the doubles matches and winning two singles matches May 17 at West Florida.

The Senators took all three doubles contests and proceeded to take the title with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles.

At No. 1 doubles, Lander's duo of Tobia Huning and Laio Teixeira defeated Barry's Kay Spindler and Herbert Bende, 8-4. Senators H. B. Nordstrom and Martin Kahm won at No. 2 doubles by posting an 8-2 score over Barry's Iphton Louis and David Cardozo. Lander's tandem of Erik Friberg and David Mercier defeated Barry's Lior Chalbianchi and Jean-Max Margones, 8-3, for the doubles sweep.

Lander's Huning beat Louis, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, at No. 1 singles. Then the Senators' Raul Campos sealed Lander's team victory with his 6-3, 6-4 win over Barry's Margones at No. 6 singles.

Barry's only victory of the championship came from Spindler at No. 2 singles, who defeated Lander's Nordstrom, 6-1, 6-3.

"This is the hardest tournament we have won in four or five years. The field was really strong," Lander head coach Joe Cabri said.

Lander made it to the final match by defeating Millersville, 5-0, in the first round, Northwood, 5-4, in the quarterfinals and host West Florida, 5-2, in the semifinals.

Kahm, a senior, enjoyed his fourth and final team championship.

"It feels good that we finished up in style," he said. "The first one is special, but this year, it was harder."

Teammate and fellow classmate Teixeira admitted to feeling some additional pressure in seeking a fourth title.

"You always are looking to finish up strong, especially because it's your senior year," he said. "Lander has been supportive of the tennis program, and we really appreciate it."

Lander's seventh title ties Southern Illinois-Edwardsville's record for the most in Division II men's tennis. Lander had captured five consecutive NAIA titles before moving to Division II in 1993.

West Florida defeated Armstrong Atlantic, 5-0, to place third. The Argonauts took all three doubles matches, and senior Malik Tabet beat Stefan Wirtz, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 2 singles. Freshman Frantisek Krepelka secured the victory by winning at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-4, over Jens Garberding.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY

Regionals

East Regional -- Lees-McRae 5, Queens (N.C.) 0; Belmont Abbey 5, Kutztown 4; Lees-McRae 5, Belmont Abbey 4. (Lees-McRae advances.) Millersville 5, Carson-Newman 1; Concordia (N.Y.) 5, Binghamton 2; Millersville 5, Concordia (N.Y.) 2. (Millersville advances.)

Midwest Regional -- Abilene Christian 5, Neb.-Kearney 1; Midwestern St. 5, Cameron 3; Midwestern St. 5, Abilene Christian 3. (Midwestern St. advances.) Northwood 5, Central Okla. 2; Metro St. 5, Ferris St. 3; Northwood 5, Metro St. 2. (Northwood advances.) Northeastern St. 5, Southwest Baptist 2; Drury 5, West Tex. A&M 2; Drury 5, Northeastern St. 0. (Drury advances.)

South Regional -- Armstrong Atlantic 5, Morehouse 1; Rollins 5, Ala.-Huntsville 1; Armstrong Atlantic 5, Rollins 1. (Armstrong Atlantic advances.) Lynn 5, Lincoln Memorial 0; North Fla. 7, North Ala. 1; North Fla. 5, Lynn 4. (North Fla. advances.) Fla. Southern 5, Delta St. 0; Columbus St. 5, S.C.-Aiken 4; Fla. Southern 5, Columbus St. 3. (Fla. Southern advances.) Francis Marion 5, Eckerd 0; Georgia C&SU 5, Valdosta St. 2; Francis Marion 5, Georgia C&SU 4. (Francis Marion advances.)

West regional -- BYU-Hawaii 6, UC Davis 0; Hawaii Pacific 6, Hawaii-Hilo 1; Hawaii Pacific 5, BYU-Hawaii 2. (Hawaii Pacific advances.)

First round

Lander 5, Millersville 0; Northwood 5, North Fla. 4; Fla. Southern 6, Lees-McRae 0; West Fla. 5, Midwestern St. 1; Ouachita Baptist 5, Francis Marion 0; Armstrong Atlantic 5, Presbyterian 1; Hawaii Pacific 5, Bloomsburg 1; Barry 5, Drury 1.

Quarterfinals

Lander 5, Northwood 0; West Fla. 5, Fla. Southern 2; Armstrong Atlantic 5, Ouachita Baptist 3; Barry 5, Hawaii-Pacific 0.

Semifinals

Lander 5, West Fla. 2; Barry 5, Armstrong Atlantic 2.

Third place

West Fla. 5, Armstrong Atlantic 0

Doubles -- No. 1: Rodolfo Varela-Malik Tabet, West Fla., def. Christian Witt-Stefan Wirtz, Armstrong Atlantic, 8-6; No. 2: Khairy Wasfy-Julien Dubosq, West Fla., def. Jens Garberding-Christopher Peterson, Armstrong Atlantic, 8-4; No. 3: Frantisek Krepelka-Chris Phelan, West Fla., def. Blaise Tribolet-Per Lungren, Armstrong Atlantic, 8-6.

Singles -- No. 1: Suspended; No. 2: Tabet, West Fla., def. Wirtz, Armstrong Atlantic, 6-2, 6-2; No. 3: Suspended; No. 4: Krepelka, West Fla., def. Garberding, Armstrong Atlantic, 6-4, 6-4; No. 5: Suspended; No. 6: Suspended.

Championship

Lander 5, Barry 1

Doubles -- No. 1: Tobias Huning-Laio Teixeira, Lander, def. Kay Spindler-Herbert Bende, Barry, 8-4; No. 2: H.B. Nordstrom-Martin Kahm, Lander, def. Iphton Louis-David Cardozo, Barry, 8-2; No. 3: Erik Friberg-David Mercier, Lander, def. Lior Chalbianchi-Jean-Max Margones, Barry, 8-3.

Singles -- No. 1: Huning, Lander, def. Louis, Barry, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4; No. 2: Spindler, Barry, def. Nordstrom, Lander, 6-1, 6-3; No. 3: Suspended; No. 4: Suspended; No. 5: Suspended; No. 6: Raul Campos, Lander, def. Margones, Barry, 6-3, 6-4.