Wichita, Kan. – After disposing of Friends University in the semifinals, 5-0, McPherson College took down the reigning KCAC champion Bethany College Swedes 5-3 to claim the 2015 KCAC Tournament Championship and earn a trip to the 2015 NAIA Men's Tennis National Championships.
The semifinal match went smooth as butter for the Bulldogs as they won all three doubles without much trouble. No. 1 combo of Joan-Marc Fajula Rodriguez and Ahmed Lahlou took care of business 8-2 while Hugo Ball-Greene and Allen Darmawan won 8-4 at the No. 3 position. The No. 2 duo of Hector Carrillo Perales and Jose Maria Carrillo Reina had a bit of a battle but won 8-6.
Mac needed just two points to clinch the match and Ball-Greene and Fajula Rodriguez delivered with wins at No. 4 and No. 1, respectively. Ball-Green won with ease 6-2, 6-2 while Fajula Rodriguez cruised in the first set 6-2 but had a bit of a challenge in the second, winning 7-6 (7-5)
With Bethany winning 5-0 over Southwestern College in their semifinal, it was a showdown of the top two KCAC tennis programs and a rematch of last year's championship match.
The Bulldogs, much like they did in the regular season matchup, won two of the three doubles points. Unlike their previous matchup, MC won at No. 1 with Fajula Rodriguez/Lahlou taking the point 8-4. No. 3 doubles won as well 8-6. At No. 2 it was a tough match and the Carrillo boys fell just short 8-6.
In singles, Bethany quickly tied things up with a win at No. 1 and then went ahead 3-2 with a victory at the No. 3 position. Ball-Greene squared things up as he took the No. 5 point 6-4, 6-1. Lahlou got his revenge at the No. 2 position as he won a pair of close sets 7-5, 7-5 to bring Mac within one point. Jaime Roman, the heart and soul of this Bulldog group, was determined to bring the match home for MC. Playing at the No. 4 slot, the senior dropped the first set 3-6 but regained his composure to win the second 6-2. In the final set, with the energy of his team behind him, Roman came out victorious 6-3, sending the 'Dogs to Nationals.
The Bulldogs are now qualified for the NAIA championships which are set to get started on May 12th in Mobile, Alabama. The qualifiers and bracket are scheduled to be released in early May.
Final Score
McPherson College 5 – Friends University 0
Doubles
1. Fajula Rodriguez/Lahlou (Mac) def. Ostrowicki/Nikolic (FU) 8-2
2. Carrillo/Carrillo (Mac) def. Wawrzinek/Zetzsche (FU) 8-6
3. Ball-Greene/Darmawan (Mac) def. Bennewitz/Camp (FU) 8-4
Singles
1. Joan-Marc Fajula Rodriguez (Mac) def. Wawrzinek (FU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Ahmed Lahlou (Mac) vs. Ferdi Ostrowicki (FU) Unfinished
3. Hector Carrillo Perales (Mac) vs. Jonas Zetzsche (FU) Unfinished
4. Hugo Ball-Greene (Mac) def. Johannes Bennewitz (FU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Pablo Garcia (Mac) vs. Stefan Nikolic (FU) Unfinished
6. Puneet Dave (Mac) vs. Roland Perlitz (FU) Unfinished
Final Score:
McPherson College 5 – Bethany College 3
Doubles
1. Fajula Rodriguez/Lahlou (Mac) def. Raga/Van Den Bogaert (BC) 8-4
2. Mateus/Campos (BC) def. Carrillo/Carrillo (Mac) 8-6
3. Ball-Greene/Darmawan (Mac) def. Olliviere/Caro (BC) 8-5
Singles
1. Manuel Raga (BC) def. Joan-Marc Fajula Rodriguez (Mac) 6-1, 6-2
2. Ahmed Lahlou (Mac) def. Juan Mateus (BC) 7-5, 7-5
3. Michiel Van Den Bogaert (BC) def. Hector Carrillo (Mac) 6-7, 6-4
4. Jaimie Roman (Mac) def. Dujoh Olliviere (BC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Hugo Ball-Greene (Mac) def. Bruno Campos (BC) 6-4, 6-1
6. Pablo Garcia (Mac) vs. Guillermo Caro (BC) Unfinished
