ACU teams to play for titles

ACU men, women to play for titles

Wins will send ACU teams to national tournament

ABILENE -- The ACU men's and women's tennis teams will play for NCAA Division II Central Region championships Friday at the Eager Tennis Center on the ACU campus.

The ACU men received a semifinal bye Thursday, and will play St. Edward's at 10 a.m. Friday for the championship. The ACU women, meanwhile, knocked off Rockhurst (Mo.), 5-0, Thursday afternoon, and will take on Lone Star Conference rival Midwestern State at 12:15 p.m. Friday for the women's title.

The ACU women will be trying to win their ninth straight regional tournament and earn a spot in their ninth straight national tournament in the match against the Lady Indians, who beat Drury (Mo.), 5-2, in Thursday's semifinals. ACU and Midwestern State have met once previously this season with the Wildcats taking a 7-2 win over the Lady Indians on March 31 in Wichita Falls.

ACU went 5-1 in singles in that match and 2-1 in doubles, although ACU's No. 1 doubles team of Colleen Reynolds and Rachel Taylor did not play doubles that day, and Taylor -- ranked No. 31 in the nation in singles -- did not play singles.

Reynolds and Taylor played doubles Thursday, and they had little trouble with Rockhurst's No. 1 doubles team of Jenna Lee and Laura Miller, winning the match, 8-3, to start a 3-0 ACU sweep of doubles action. Summer Beesley and Ashley Hawk then won singles matches to finish off the Lady Hawks.

On the men's side, ACU and St. Edward's will meet for the second time this season, and the championship match should offer exciting tennis. The Wildcats -- the defending regional champion -- beat the Hilltoppers, 5-4, in Austin on March 13, one of six ACU wins during the season by the score of 5-4.

That match came down to Evan Puglia at No. 6 singles, and he rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Kenton Venhuizen to clinch the match.

The winners of Friday's matches will advance to the NCAA Division II national championship tournament, which this year will be played in conjunction with the NCAA Division II Spring Sports Festival, May 12-15, at the Seminole County Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

NCAA DIVISION II CENTRAL REGIONAL
Thursday, May 6 -- Friday, May 7
Abilene Christian University / Eager Tennis Center / Abilene, TX

WOMEN
Thursday, May 6
Semifinals
Midwestern State 5, Drury (Mo.) 2
     Doubles -- Frida Arlegard-Jennifer Hays, MSU, def. Zineb Ibnmajdoub-Camille Ducourt, Drury, 8-4; Muller-Lacey Wuthrich, MSU, def. Megan Fraser-Nina Jagasia, Drury, 8-6; Michelle Beukes-Michelle Watson, MSU, def. Anna King-Lina Benchekroun, Drury, 8-3.
     Singles -- Lina Benchekroun, Drury, def. Michelle Watson, MSU, 7-5, 6-0; Lacey Wuthrich, MSU, def. Megan Fraser, Drury, 6-4, 6-1; Michelle Beukes, MSU, def. Camille Ducourt, Drury, 6-2, 6-2; Anna King, Drury, def. Jennifer Hays, MSU, 6-3, 6-2.
Abilene Christian 5, Rockhurst (Mo.) 0
     Doubles -- Colleen Reynolds-Rachel Taylor, ACU, def. Jenna Lee-Laura Miller, Rockhurst, 8-3; Summer Beesley-Joy Israel, ACU, def. Carmen Briscoe-Heather Renier, Rockhurst, 8-2; Holly Lindloff-Lana Pavlin, ACU, def. Stephanie Werthmuller-Katie Anderson, Rockhurst, 8-4.
     Singles -- Summer Beesley, ACU, def. Jenna Lee, Rockhurst, 6-1, 6-2; Ashley Hawk, ACU, def. Stephanie Werthmuller, 6-1, 6-2.

MEN
Thursday, May 6
Semifinal
St. Edward's 5, Rockhurst (Mo.) 1
Doubles -- Kendall Smashey-Simon Boyce, SEU, def. Gareth Dowdell-Zach Miller, Rockhurst, 8-5; Gustavo Ganem-Jorge Jimenez, SEU, def. Ian Cunliff-Matt McCord, Rockhurst, 8-3; Mario Quintero-Kenton Venhuizen, SEU, def. Peter Grimsey-Andrew Doole, Rockhurst, 8-4.
Singles -- Kendall Smashey, SEU, def. Gareth Dowdell, Rockhurst, 6-1, 6-4; Peter Grimsey, Rockhurst, def. Simon Boyce, SEU, 6-2, 6-3; Gustavo Ganem, SEU, def. Andrew Doole, Rockhurst, 7-6, 6-2.

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE
Men's Championship
10 a.m. -- St. Edward's (18-5) vs. Abilene Christian (24-5)
Women's Championship
12:15 p.m. -- Midwestern State (22-8) vs. Abilene Christian (27-6)