Team Schedule/Scores

Williams tops UC Santa Cruz, 4-1, for second Division III title in three years
For the second time in three years, the Williams (Mass.) College Ephs claimed the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship as they defeated the University of California Santa Cruz by a 4-1 score.

Williams accepts its NCAA Championship tropy. (photo: Marilyn Culler)

Third-seeded Williams trailed 1-0 after the fourth-seeded Banana Slugs won the doubles points. Derek Fitzpatrick and Nick Cunningham defeated Josh Lefkowitz and Toby Reigeluth at number one doubles, 8-2, while Danny Kim and Peter Gladkin won at number two doubles over Andrew and Daniel Murray.

The Ephs tied the match at 1-1 as Daniel Murray beat Carlos Gonzalez at number six singles, 6-3, 6-0. Lefkowitz defeated Fitzpatrick at number one singles, 7-5, 6-1, to put Williams ahead 2-1. Andrew Murray then made it 3-1 with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at number three singles over Danny Kim.

The deciding match came at fourth singles where Reigeluth topped Gladkin 6-4, 7-6 (7-3 in the tiebreaker). Gladkin led 4-1 in the second set before Reigeluth won four straight games to take a 5-4 lead. Each player held serve over the next three games to tie the set at 6-6 and force the tiebreaker.

"I'm pretty overwhelmed right now," 14th-year head coach Dave Johnson said.

"Our kids are just tough in singles play. We knew that Santa Cruz plays good doubles, but we also knew how tough we are in singles. The chance to do this doesn't come around often and when you've beaten Santa Cruz, you've really done something. This is an incredible accomplishment for our program."

The championship was Williams' second overall and second in the last three years as they defeated Kalamazoo 4-1 in 1999. Their other appearance in the title match came in 1998 when they lost a 4-2 decision to UC Santa Cruz at Willliams. The Ephs finished with a 14-5 record.

The Banana Slugs made their 10th finals appearance and have won four titles and now have finished second six times. UC Santa Cruz finished the year with a 15-6 record.

The win for Williams came just shortly after the women's team defeated Trinity (Texas) University at Trinity for the Division III women's title. That marked the second straight year that same school won both championships. Trinity claimed each in 2000.

In the third-place match, the University of Redlands (Calif.) defeated Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) College 4-3 after winning three matches that went three sets. Redlands finished the year at 22-5, while Gustavus Adolphus closed out play at 35-3.

Competition for the singles and doubles titles begins on Monday with the first two rounds of singles and the first round of doubles. Finals in each is scheduled for Wednesday, May 23.

Team Championship Results

Sunday, May 20
Championship Williams 4, UC Santa Cruz 1
Third Place Redlands 4, Gustavus Adolphus 3
Semifinals — Saturday, May 19
UC Santa Cruz 4 Gustavus Adolphus 3
Williams 4, Redlands 0
Quarterfinals — Friday, May 18
Gustavus Adolphus 4, MIT 1
UC Santa Cruz 4, Emory 0
Williams 4, Washington (Md.) 2
Redlands 4, Kalamazoo 0