National tennis titles decided
Category: University Updates | Date: May 26 2011 | Author: Play Atlantic Admin
The NCAA Division 1 mens tennis championships was decided in familiar fashion this week, with the University of Southern California (USC) taking their third title in a row. It wasn't an easy match though against Virginia in the final by any means, with the whole championship being decided by one match, with USC's Daniel Nguyen bringing the title home with a 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 win.
"It was an incredible match", USC coach Peter Smith said. "It all came down to the last match. How many teams win three in a row? These boys did it. This coaching staff did it."
The Womens NCAA Division 1 Championship was incredibly an even closer match between Florida and the unbeaten Stanford this year. With the Gators Lauren Embree winning the narrowest of matches with a final rubber match nail bitter against Stanfords Mallory Burdette 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6).
"Mallory hits the ball so hard I knew I couldn't hit with her," Embree said. "I had to grind it out. I just wanted to fight as long as I could."
Ecstatic Florida Coach Cercone said "Lauren is one of those players you can depend on, you don't want to put any pressure on anybody but when it came down to that match, I knew Lauren could pull it out. I know the heart she has and I'm just glad to be on the same team."
Stanfords Head Coach Lele Forood was very gracious in defeat saying "That was the most electric atmosphere I have ever experienced in my college career, It was a great day. We just came up a little short."
The Gators ended Stanford's incredible 184-match home court winning streak, which spanned 12 years and included two victories against Florida in the NCAA tournament.
