TEN: Warriors close out regular season winning 6th straight

On the final day of seasonal competition on campus at Lynn Abbott Courts, Westmont Men’s Tennis (14-5, 8-2 GSAC) capped off their prosperous 2014 regular-season run by romping Biola (RV) (8-15, 4-6) by a score of 9-0.

The fifth-ranked Warriors have now procured their sixth-straight victory, surpassing their five-win mark that inaugurated this year’s campaign. Furthermore, today’s triumph was the squad’s third sweep in a row.

Over the course of the streak, the men in maroon have defeated their opponents by a collective mark of 50-4, including three wins over ranked opponents: #13 Concordia, third-ranked (NCAA III) Williams (Mass.), and #19 (NCAA III) UC Santa Cruz.

This past Tuesday, the team garnered a definitive second-place Golden State Athletic Conference finish when they handled league foe Hope International (3-18, 1-9) 9-0 in Fullerton. The Warriors then returned home to overpower the Banana Slugs (6-9) 9-0 on Friday.

Senior (#35-ranked) John Bertram and junior (#45-ranked) Josh Barnard each prolonged their winning ways, compiling 6-0 records on the week between individual and doubles play combined to extend their personal winning streaks to 12 matches.

Additionally, both Warriors were recently bestowed individual honors. Bertram received the 2014 Golden Eagle Award for men’s tennis, while Barnard was named last week’s NAIA Men’s Tennis Player of the Week.

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) eighth-ranked player, Rodrigo Schaefer (6-0 on the week), and (#13) Tim Goranson (5-0) split time at no. 1 and 2 singles with vast success. Senior Nick Szyndlar (6-0), Sophomore Travis Kimsey (6-0), and freshman Tommy Nightingale (2-0) each captured stellar results as well.

“This was a very decisive week for us,” commented Westmont head coach Mark Basham. “It was good for our guys to get some variety and new experiences against Hope, and I was especially happy with how Nick and Travis battled back in their individual matches against Santa Cruz. Travis was down a break 1-0 and proceeded to win six games in a row. Both then took third round super- tiebreakers.

“Our performances this week were exceptional because of the way the team kept their focus and intensity,” continued the Warriors’ fifth-year coach. “Everywhere you looked, good effort was on display.”

Westmont now ventures to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Tuesday for the GSAC Men’s Tennis Championship. Having secured the league’s second spot behind fourth-ranked Vanguard (16-4, 10-0), the Warriors possess a first-round bye and await the first-round’s highest remaining seed in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s contests pit third-seeded Concordia against sixth-seeded Arizona Christian (10-12, 1-9), while the fourth seed, Biola, faces off with the fifth seed, Hope International. Those matches begin at noon.

“We’re all excited,” exclaimed an ecstatic Basham. “The guys are ready!”

(#5) Westmont 9, Hope International 0
April 8, 2014 in Fullerton, Calif. (Cal State Fullerton)

Singles competition
1. #8 SCHAEFER, Rodrigo (WC) def. OWENS, John-Douglas (HIU) 7-6 (7-0), 6-0
2. #35 BERTRAM, John (WC) def. CORREA, Enzo (HIU) 6-1, 6-3
3. #45 BARNARD, Joshua (WC) def. BRITO, Thiago (HIU) 6-0, 6-0
4. KIMSEY, Travis (WC) def. ARRIOLA, Nick (HIU) 6-0, 6-1
5. SZYNDLAR, Nicholas (WC) def. MAIOLO, Michael (HIU) 6-0, 6-0
6. NIGHTINGALE, Tommy (WC) def. No player (HIU), by default

Doubles competition
1. SCHAEFER, Rodrigo/SZYNDLAR, Nicholas (WC) def. OWENS, John-Douglas/CORREA, Enzo (HIU) 8-4
2. GORANSON, Tim/NIGHTINGALE, Tommy (WC) def. BRITO, Thiago/MAIOLO, Michael (HIU) 8-2
3. BARNARD, Joshua/KIMSEY, Travis (WC) def. No player/No player (HIU), by default

(#5) Westmont 9, (#19 NCAA III) UC Santa Cruz 0
April 11, 2014 in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Lynn Abbott Tennis Courts)

Singles competition
1. #13 GORANSON, Tim (WC) def. SCANDALIS, Eli (UCSC) 6-3, 6-2
2. #8 SCHAEFER, Rodrigo (WC) def. LITTLEJOHN, Max (UCSC) 7-6 (7-1), 6-4
3. #35 BERTRAM, John (WC) def. DEGUCHI, Garrett (UCSC) 6-3, 6-1
4. #45 BARNARD, Joshua (WC) def. RICHTER, Kyle (UCSC) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
5. KIMSEY, Travis (WC) def. SOPER, James (UCSC) 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-3)
6. SZYNDLAR, Nicholas (WC) def. GOETZ, George (UCSC) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7)

Doubles competition
1. #2 SCHAEFER, Rodrigo/BARNARD, Joshua (WC) def. SCANDALIS, Eli/GOETZ, George (UCSC) 8-1
2. #15 GORANSON, Tim/BERTRAM, John (WC) def. LITTLEJOHN, Max/RICHTER, Kyle (UCSC) 8-2
3. KIMSEY, Travis/SZYNDLAR, Nicholas (WC) def. DEGUCHI, Garrett/MUNUGALA, Chetan (UCSC) 8-4

—

(#5) Westmont 9, Biola (RV) 0
April 12, 2014 in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Lynn Abbott Tennis Courts)

Singles competition
1. #13 GORANSON, Tim (WC) def. #31 LEE, Lucas (BU) 6-0, 6-1
2. #8 SCHAEFER, Rodrigo (WC) def. PEKARY, Isaiah (BU) 6-1, 6-4
3. #35 BERTRAM, John (WC) def. MOUNTAIN, Luke (BU) 6-3, 6-0
4. #45 BARNARD, Joshua (WC) def. TOWNSEND, Tayven (BU) 6-1, 6-2
5. KIMSEY, Travis (WC) def. CHANG, Brandon (BU) 6-1, 6-2
6. SZYNDLAR, Nicholas (WC) def. PENCE, Rodric (BU) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #2 SCHAEFER, Rodrigo/BARNARD, Joshua (WC) def. PEKARY, Isaiah/TOWNSEND, Tayven (BU) 8-0
2. #15 GORANSON, Tim/BERTRAM, John (WC) def. LEE, Lucas/MOUNTAIN, Luke (BU) 8-0
3. KIMSEY, Travis/SZYNDLAR, Nicholas (WC) def. CHANG, Brandon/EVANS, Chris (BU) 8-3