KUTZTOWN, PA (May 6, 2010) – The West Liberty University men’s tennis team earned its first NCAA tournament victory in program history by defeating Bluefield State 5-2 on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Atlantic Regional #2 hosted by Kutztown University.
“We knew that Bluefield had a very good team, they had beaten us 5-4 in the regular season,” West Liberty head coach Sam McCullough said. “We knew we would have a tough match, but said if we stayed focused and played hard like we have been for the last three weeks good things would happen, and good things did happen.”
West Liberty, which had been 0-4 in NCAA postseason action entering the match, started strong, earning two wins in the doubles competition. At the No. 2 doubles Tyler McCullough and Tim Sylvester defeated Bluefield’s Marcin Majchrzak and Sreeram Gautam 8-5. At No. 3 doubles Alex Fager and Andrew Sickles defeated Justin House and David Dyer 8-4.
“This was my third time at Regionals,” Sylvester said. “For most of the other guys’ this is their second time at Regionals so we came in pretty well prepared. Playing against Bluefield, we were real excited to meet a rival team in the first round so we got real pumped for it and played tough.”
Doubles partners Shikar Kapur and Dusan Zivkovic defeated Jandir Junior and Erik Jahreskog 8-4 in the No. 1 spot for Bluefield State, which was making its first NCAA tournament debut.
In singles competition, West Liberty claimed three victories. At No. 4 singles Tim Sylvester defeated Sreeram Gautam 6-2, 7-5. Alex Fager defeated Justin House 6-0 and 6-1 and at No. 5 singles Alex Conway defeated David Dyer at No. 6 singles 6-2, 6-2.
Bluefield’s Shikar Kapur defeated Jandir Junior 6-1, 6-0 for its only singles victory of the match.
“Being my senior year I’m real excited to be here especially making it past the first round for the first time,” Sylvester said. “ I just don’t want the season to end, being a senior you never want the season to end and the way we played towards the end here and the way we’re playing the Regionals now I’d just like to keep it going as long as we possibly can.”
West Liberty will meet the winner of the Kutztown-Mercyhurst match Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. with a trip to the Sweet 16 in Altamonte Springs, Florida on the line.
--KU--
Singles Competition
1. Shikar Kapur (BSU) def. Jandir Santin Junior (WLS); 6-1, 6-0
2. Marcin Majchrzak (BSU) vs. Erik Jahreskog (WLS); 6-4, 6-4; unfinished
3. Dusan Zivkovic (BSU) vs. Tyler McCullough (WLS); 6-3, 2-6, 3-5; unfinished
4. Tim Sylvester (WLS) def. Sreeram Gautam (BSU) 6-2, 7-5
5. Alex Fager (WLS) def. Justin House (BSU); 6-0, 6-1
6. Alex Conway (WLS) def. David Dyer (BSU); 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Shikar Kapur/Dusan Zivkovic (BSU) def. Jandir Santin/ Erik Jahreskog (WLS); 8-4
2. Tyler McCullough/Tim Sylvester (WLS) def. Marcin Majchrzak/Sreeram Gautam (BSU); 8-5
3. Alex Fager/Andrew Sickles (WLS) def. Justin House/David Dyer (BSU); 8-4
