OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Lewis-Clark State College men’s tennis team won two matches on Thursday to advance to the championship match of the NAIA Men’s Regional Tournament. The Warrior women fell in the semifinals.
For the second straight season the LCSC tennis squads were lumped into an NAIA national qualifying tournament with teams from the Midlands, Red River, Cascade, and Sooner Athletic conferences. One automatic berth is up for grabs for both the men and the women.
The No. 24-ranked Warrior men defeated John Brown University 9-0 in the opening round, and then topped No. 21 Our Lady of the Lake 5-4 in the semifinals. LCSC will now face No. 3 Oklahoma Christian at 11:30 a.m., PST, on Friday.
After falling 2-1 in doubles play, the Warriors had to battle back for the win against Our Lady of the Lake.
“We came back and won the singles that we needed,” said LCSC head coach Kai Fong. “We needed five points and it just so happened that our senior came through just when we needed him. It was very fitting seeing that Cesar (Uauy) has been such a cornerstone of our program.”
Uauy (pictured above), a native of Santiago, Chile, who joined the Warriors as a sophomore in 2010, battled through stomach pain to win his No. 3 singles match 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 and clinch the Warrior victory. Alberto Sanz also had a key comeback win as he overcame a 3-0 deficit in the third set to win the No. 6 singles match 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
Fong said that a good showing in the title match on Friday is important because the Warriors might be too far down in the rankings to receive an at-large bid, although the win over higher ranked Our Lady of the Lake should help some in that regard.
“The neat thing about this win is that we didn’t even have our No. 1,” said Fong referring to Anders Tischer who is not playing in the tournament because of a hand injury. “We’re hoping that the win moves us in ranking, but to be assured of anything we need to win tomorrow.”
The No. 14-ranked LCSC women took down the University of Southwest 9-0 in the first round, but then fell 6-3 to No. 10 Southern Nazarene University in the second round. Scores from this match are not available at this time. No. 4 Oklahoma Christian and Southern Nazarene will play in the title match on Friday.
“The women were pretty close,” Fong said. “Our women are beginning to see how good of a team they are. I want them to get an opportunity to go to nationals and prove themselves more.”
As long as its ranking holds, the LCSC women’s squad is believed to be in good position to receive an at-large berth to the national tournament.
MEN
First Round
Lewis-Clark State 9, John Brown University 0
Doubles
1. Cesar Uauy-Sam Tozer (LCSC) def. Eric Engstrom-Cameron McLendon 8-2
2. Lincoln Gay-Tyler Oram (LCSC) def. Alvard Lacayo-Luke Pascoe 8-1
3. Jeff Lowndes-Alberto Sanz (LCSC) def. Blake Zoellneck- Louis Mukolwe 8-0
Singles
1. Ivan Krijanto (LCSC) def. Cameron McLendon 6-2, 6-4
2. Benjamin Robert (LCSC) def. Alex Baker 6-0, 6-2
3. Lincoln Gay (LCSC) def. Eric Engstrom 6-0, 6-3
4. Alberto Sanz (LCSC) def. Louis Mukolwe 6-1, 6-1
5. Tyler Oram (LCSC) def. Blake Zoellner 6-0, 6-1
6. Jeff Lowndes (LCSC) def. Luke Pascoe 6-1, 6-0
Semifinal Round
Lewis-Clark State 5, Our Lady of the Lake 4
Doubles
1. Pedro Arteaga-Juan Arteaga (OLLUSA) def. Ivan Krijanto-Benjamin Robert 8-6
2. Luis Rovira-Matt Ellis (OLLUSA) def. Tyler Oram-CesarUauy 8-5
3. Lincoln Gay-Sam Tozer (LCSC) def. Santiago Padilla-Kuda Sengai 8-4
Singles
1. Juan Arteaga (OLLUSA) def. Ivan Krijanto 6-4, 6-4
2. Sam Tozer (LCSC) def. Matt Ellis 6-3, 6-3
3. Cesar Uauy (LCSC) def. Luis Rovira 6-7, 7-5, 7-6
4. Benjamin Robert (LCSC) def. Kuda Sengai 6-0, 6-1
5. Pedro Arteaga (OLLUSA) def. Lincoln Gay 6-1, 6-3
6. Alberto Sanz (LCSC) def. Santiago Padilla 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
WOMEN
First Round
Lewis-Clark State 9, University of Southwest 0
Doubles
1. Dominika Jasova-Dorothy Chong (LCSC) def. Andrea Venegas-Lindsey Hoffman 8-2
2. Barb Sneckner-Miranda Duggan (LCSC) def. Mardisol Ramirez-Lesley Rodriguez 8-3
3. Samantha Teigen-Bryn Oliveira (LCSC) def. Emily Flores-Raeann Richardson 8-1
Singles
1. Dominika Jasova (LCSC) def. Andrea Venegas 6-2, 6-0
2. Barb Sneckner (LCSC) def. Lindsey Hoffman 6-1, 6-3
3. Miranda Duggan (LCSC) def. Lesley Rodriguez 6-3, 6-0
4. Samantha Teigen (LCSC) def. Mardisol Ramirez 6-1, 6-1
5. Marina Wold (LCSC) def. Emily Flores 6-1, 6-0
6. Florencia Martina (LCSC) def. Raeann Richardson 6-1, 6-2
Semifinal Round
Southern Nazarene 6, Lewis-Clark State 3
Doubles
1. Dominika Jasova-Dorothy Chong (LCSC) def. Deisi Bolivar-Karina Kotova 8-4
2. Masha Andrianova-Marina Shiplova (SNU) def. Miranda Duggan-Barb Sneckner 8-3
3. Natalia Moreno - Hillary Galbraith (SNU) def. Samantha Teigen-Bryn Oliveira 9-8
Singles
1. Masha Andrianova (SNU) def. Dominika Jasova 6-3, 6-2
2. Dorothy Chong (LCSC ) def. Natalia Moreno 6-3, 6-4
3. Deisi Bolivar (SNU) def. Barb Sneckner 6-0, 6-2
4. Marina Shiplova (SNU) def. Miranda Duggan 6-1, 6-2
5. Karina Kotova (SNU) def. Samantha Teigen 6-4, 6-4
6. Bryn Oliveira (LCSC) def. Allison White 6-3, 6-3
