Topeka, Kan. – Mobile, Alabama, the site of the NAIA Tennis Championships, is becoming like a second home for the McPherson College men's tennis team. The Bulldogs will be making their seventh trip to the National Championships in the past eight years (COVID messed up the streak in 2020), courtesy of a 2-0 finish this weekend at the KCAC Championships in Topeka, Kansas.
After a perfect 9-0 run through the conference in the regular season, the Bulldogs entered the tournament at the no. 1 seed. The regular season means nothing once the tournament starts because only the winner of the tournament advances to the NAIA Championships. The Bulldogs came into the tournament determined, and they were able to sweep both matches 4-0 in dominant fashion. They opened with the Ottawa University Braves in the semi-finals on Friday. High winds and rain forced the action inside, but the change of venue didn't faze the Bulldogs. They quickly took care of the Braves and then waited the outcome of the other semi-final of Southwestern and Kansas Wesleyan. Southwestern ended up prevailing 4-2 setting up a rematch with the Bulldogs.
The two teams met six days ago with the Bulldogs narrowly defeating the Builders 4-3. This time the outcome would be much more decisive. The Bulldogs got off to a hot start securing the doubles point, by winning at no. 2 and no. 3, 6-1. In singles, they picked up wins at no. 2, no. 4, and no. 5 to clinch the championship. The Bulldogs were also winning on the three other courts when the match was decided.
Below are the men's scores with Ottawa.
|
Name
|
Singles
|
Record
|
|
Michael Beltran
|
No. 1
|
W, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
|
|
Martin Millos
|
No. 2
|
W, 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
|
|
Daniel Marcano
|
No. 3
|
W, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
|
|
Trey Murphy
|
No. 4
|
6-0, UF
|
|
Oscar Brouwer
|
No. 5
|
5-0 UF
|
|
Zhiyuan Wei
|
No. 6
|
No result
|
|
|
Doubles
|
|
|
Jakob Komel / Murphy
|
No. 1
|
L, 6-3
|
|
Beltran / Millos
|
No. 2
|
W, 6-3
|
|
Brouwer / Marcano
|
No. 3
|
W, 6-3
|
The men's scores with Southwestern.
|
Name
|
Singles
|
Record
|
|
Michael Beltran
|
No. 1
|
6-3, 5-2 UF
|
|
Martin Millos
|
No. 2
|
W, 6-3, 6-3
|
|
Daniel Marcano
|
No. 3
|
6-4, 4-5 UF
|
|
Trey Murphy
|
No. 4
|
W, 6-3, 6-2
|
|
Oscar Brouwer
|
No. 5
|
W, 7-6 (3), 6-0
|
|
Zhiyuan Wei
|
No. 6
|
4-6, 6-0, 1-0 UF
|
|
|
Doubles
|
|
|
Jakob Komel / Murphy
|
No. 1
|
2-5, UF
|
|
Beltran / Millos
|
No. 2
|
W, 6-1
|
|
Brouwer / Marcano
|
No. 3
|
W, 6-1
|
Coach President summed up the weekend saying, "Our men not only had a great weekend, but a great season! Going undefeated in conference play and losing only one match in NAIA play! This weekend the men went out to this tournament with a different mindset than I've seen all season. They didn't want this win for themselves but every individual on the team, everyone who came out and supported and the institution granting them the opportunity to be in the position they were in. With that mindset these guys did not drop a point all weekend!"
He went on to add, "We have a very gritty team of men and they are not done yet! We are now preparing for the NAIA National Tournament in Mobile Alabama."
With the wins, the Bulldogs are 13-1 on the season. Next up is a trip to Mobile May 17-21 for the NAIA National Championships.
