Wichita, Kan. – To borrow a line from one of McPherson's Hall of Fame coaches, "What a great day to be a Bulldog!" The McPherson College men's and women's tennis teams both won their KCAC postseason tournaments on Saturday which automatically qualifies them for the 2016 NAIA National Men's and Women's Tennis Championships which are scheduled for the third week in May in Mobile, Alabama.
The men's team had a rough start to the day as they were only able to win at No. 2 doubles with Ahmed Lahlou and Hugo Ball-Greene, 8-3. Both of the other doubles matches went the way of Bethany College, 8-6.
In singles, Hector Carrillo Perales tied the match at 2-2 with his 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 3. Ball-Greene put the Bulldogs in front by one after dispatching BC's No. 4 player 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Joan-Marc Fajula Rodriguez fell to the top Swede who is ranked in the top-five nationally, 6-4, 6-4. The final three spots all went to third sets, making for an exciting finish. Lahlou, after losing the opening set 4-6, won 6-2 in the second and then gave the 'Dogs a 4-3 lead after winning the third 6-3 in the No. 2 slot. Shortly thereafter, Juan Alejandro Jimenez completed his comeback with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 5 to clinch the match for Mac.
Click here for the complete box score.
The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-1 advantage following doubles play. Nikki Thornburg and Nadine Baquiran took down Ottawa University 8-3 at No. 3 doubles and Nikki Vorhees and Deiah Curtis held off a comeback at No. 2 doubles, 8-6. It should be noted that in MC's regular season victory over Ottawa, the Braves took all three doubles points.
Up 2-1, Mac needed just three points to clinch the match. Zoe Bouwmeester made quick work of her opponent at No. 3, winning 6-1, 6-0. Thornburg followed with a 6-0, 6-1 victory herself at the No. 4 spot. Curtis pushed the match score to 5-1 after knocking off Ottawa's No. 5 player, 6-0, 6-3.
For the complete box score, click here.
McPherson is off for a couple weeks and must wait until May 10th to find out who they will be playing at the national championships which will begin on May 17th.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
