SSAC News
Sat, May 22, 2004 - [Men's Tennis]
MOBILE -- The AUM men's and women's tennis teams made history on Friday, sweeping
the NAIA national titles at the Mobile Tennis Center.
Both teams beat Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 5-0 in Friday's final matches.
It marks the first time teams from the same school have won the men's and women's titles in the same year."It is unbelievable to think that you can win both titles in the same year," AUM coach Anuk Christiansz said. "These guys and girls worked so hard to get where they are at, and they deserve what they have gotten."
The men entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed behind Azusa.
However, the Senators struck early on Friday, winning all three doubles matches for a 3-0 advantage.
AUM's Michael Gierke and Anton Brykalin won at No. 1 doubles, beating APU's Sam Fletcher and Adam Davidson, 9-7. At No. 2, Aivaras Balzekas and Dmitri Babenko beat Boris Bakalov and Tom Jelsma, 8-4. David Budler and Gui Prata capped the impressive AUM start with a 9-7 victory over the Azusa team of David Goodman and Gordon Hong.
The Senators' singles victories came at No. 3 and No. 5. Babenko beat Goodman 6-3, 7-5 at No. 3 and Gierke beat Hong 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5. Because of those wins, Brykalin, Balzekas, Budler and Prata didn't need to finish their matches.
Fletcher was named the outstanding player of the tournament for the second year in a row. Christiansz was named national coach of the year for the women and the men.
"It is just unbelievable to think that we won the national championship," said Prata, the lone senior on the AUM men's team. "I have been here for three and half years, and this moment almost brings me to tears."
On the women's side, AUM came in as the top seed and proved it.
Since the team format began, the Lady Senators have won three titles (2000, 2001 and 2004) and placed runner-up the other two times (2002, 2003).
"It is just hard to put into words what we accomplished today," said Carla Bruno, the only senior on the women's team. "I am just so proud of all of my teammates, and for the men's team for winning the championship."
AUM dominated the tournament, dropping only one match in its four games -- a doubles match against Brenau University (Ga.) in the quarterfinals.
On Friday, the Lady Senators opened with three early doubles victories to set the pace. The teams of Suheil Lizana and Carla Bruno, Anna Moncolova and Gedvile Norkute and Dijana Stanic and Mandy Steptoe each won in easy fashion.
The singles wins came at No. 4 and No. 6. Lizana beat Azusa's Christina Earnest 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 and Bruno beat Lindsey West by the same score. Stanic, Norkute and Moncolova all were on their way to easy wins when AUM reached five points. Steptoe was even with Lynn Quitoriana 6-6 in the first set.
Both teams beat Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 5-0 in Friday's final matches.
It marks the first time teams from the same school have won the men's and women's titles in the same year."It is unbelievable to think that you can win both titles in the same year," AUM coach Anuk Christiansz said. "These guys and girls worked so hard to get where they are at, and they deserve what they have gotten."
The men entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed behind Azusa.
However, the Senators struck early on Friday, winning all three doubles matches for a 3-0 advantage.
AUM's Michael Gierke and Anton Brykalin won at No. 1 doubles, beating APU's Sam Fletcher and Adam Davidson, 9-7. At No. 2, Aivaras Balzekas and Dmitri Babenko beat Boris Bakalov and Tom Jelsma, 8-4. David Budler and Gui Prata capped the impressive AUM start with a 9-7 victory over the Azusa team of David Goodman and Gordon Hong.
The Senators' singles victories came at No. 3 and No. 5. Babenko beat Goodman 6-3, 7-5 at No. 3 and Gierke beat Hong 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5. Because of those wins, Brykalin, Balzekas, Budler and Prata didn't need to finish their matches.
Fletcher was named the outstanding player of the tournament for the second year in a row. Christiansz was named national coach of the year for the women and the men.
"It is just unbelievable to think that we won the national championship," said Prata, the lone senior on the AUM men's team. "I have been here for three and half years, and this moment almost brings me to tears."
On the women's side, AUM came in as the top seed and proved it.
Since the team format began, the Lady Senators have won three titles (2000, 2001 and 2004) and placed runner-up the other two times (2002, 2003).
"It is just hard to put into words what we accomplished today," said Carla Bruno, the only senior on the women's team. "I am just so proud of all of my teammates, and for the men's team for winning the championship."
AUM dominated the tournament, dropping only one match in its four games -- a doubles match against Brenau University (Ga.) in the quarterfinals.
On Friday, the Lady Senators opened with three early doubles victories to set the pace. The teams of Suheil Lizana and Carla Bruno, Anna Moncolova and Gedvile Norkute and Dijana Stanic and Mandy Steptoe each won in easy fashion.
The singles wins came at No. 4 and No. 6. Lizana beat Azusa's Christina Earnest 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 and Bruno beat Lindsey West by the same score. Stanic, Norkute and Moncolova all were on their way to easy wins when AUM reached five points. Steptoe was even with Lynn Quitoriana 6-6 in the first set.
