The Grand Canyon University men’s tennis team saw their run at the NCAA Championships come to an end this morning after a 5-4 loss to Augusta State at the Top Gun Tennis Academy in Louisville, Ky.
The match took two days to complete after it was halted due to darkness last night with ASU leading GCU 4-2.
The Antelopes entered the contest this morning needing to win all three remaining matches to advance to the Final Four and almost did so.
Patrice Giraldi (No. 3 singles) and
Stephane Murray (No. 1 singles) quickly evened the match at 4-4 after closing out their opponents.
Senior
Frederic Schoelzel at No. 2 singles was the lone match remaining for the trip to the Final Four. Schoelzel and ASU’s Henrique Boturao exchanged games in the third set and were tied 4-4. Boturao was able to hold serve and get a break to close out the set and match, winning 6-4 in the third.
Augusta State had jumped out to a 2-1 advantage after the doubles round yesterday. Canyon’s
Peter Kazianschuetz teamed with Schoelzel to win 8-4 at No.1 doubles.
Ahmad Saleem took the other point for the Antelopes, rallying to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6 singles, before darkness halted play.
The two-day match came after an exhilarating five-hour 5-4 win over Concordia earlier in the day yesterday. The Antelopes then returned to the court four hours later for their match with the Jaguars.
Grand Canyon closes out their season with a 12-8 overall record.
Tennis Match Results
Augusta State vs Grand Canyon University
May 17, 2012 at Louisville, Ky.
#21 Augusta State 5, #9 Grand Canyon University 4
Singles competition
1. Stephane Murray (GCU-MT) def. #25 Bernardo Fernandes (ASU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Henrique Boturao (ASU) def. #22 Frederic Schoelzel (GCU-MT) 7-6 (8-6), 1-6, 6-4
3. Patrice Giraldi (GCU-MT) def. Victor Cabellos (ASU) 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2)
4. Jan Labas (ASU) def. Peter Kazianschuetz (GCU-MT) 7-5, 7-5
5. Victor Guimaraes (ASU) def. Bastien Tonus (GCU-MT) 6-1, 6-2
6. Ahmad Saleem (GCU-MT) def. Jenner Stevenson (ASU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Peter Kazianschuetz/Frederic Schoelzel (GCU-MT) def. #13 Henrique Boturao/Bernardo Fernandes (ASU) 8-4
2. Victor Cabellos/Victor Guimaraes (ASU) def. Stephane Murray/Bastien Tonus (GCU-MT) 8-4
3. Jan Labas/Jenner Stevenson (ASU) def. Patrice Giraldi/Ahmad Saleem (GCU-MT) 8-4
Match Notes:
Augusta State 19-9; National ranking #21
Grand Canyon University 12-8; National ranking #9
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,4,3,1,2)