CHICAGO, Ill. - The No. 12 Washington University in St. Louis men's tennis team opened its postseason run in the NCAA Division III Championship with a 5-1 win over 26th-ranked North Central College, Friday, May 10.
With the victory, WashU advances to tomorrow's regional final match against No. 2 University of Chicago. Additionally, the Bears' record jumped to 13-11 on the year. NCC's season comes to an end with an overall record of 23-4, with half of North Central's loses coming against WashU.
Doubles
WashU generated the 2-1 lead as the match shifted to singles play.
Sophomore
Eric Kuo and junior
Scott Yamamoto, playing at No. 2 doubles, welcomed the 8-5 decision over Matthew Sengphommachang and Ramon Vilarrougi Martinez.
Sophomore
Colin Fox and senior
Gaurav Singh came up just short in a tiebreaker to Guillermo Gonzalez Fernandez and Wyatt Crowell, 8-7 (7-3), at No. 1 doubles.
Singles
Phillips, who sealed the win at No. 1 singles, secured the sweep, 6-2, 6-2, against Vilarrougi Martinez.
At No. 2 singles, sophomore
Colin Scruggs swept Sengphommachang in convincing fashion, 6-3, 6-0.
Singh, playing at No. 3 singles, made quick work of Justin Penados by utilizing the 6-2, 6-0 straight set sweep.
With the match already won, the four, five, and six singles were abandoned, with WashU leading all three.
Kuo (No. 4 singles), was ahead 6-3, 5-4, graduate student
Sergiu Celebidachi (No. 5 singles), 6-5, 5-2, and junior
John Fakouri (No. 6 singles), 7-5, 3-2, each won their first set of their respective matches.
For the third time this season, the Bears will square off with No. 2, and host of the regional, University of Chicago in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, tomorrow, Saturday, May 11. First serve from XS Tennis Village is set for 1 p.m. The winner of the match will punch its ticket to Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, Mo. for the NCAA Division III quarterfinal match.
