[Men's Tennis] Hawks Win Epic GSAC Tournament Final Against OUAZ
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The No. 13 ranked San Diego Christian College Hawks capped off their undefeated GSAC season with an epic 4-1 victory over Ottawa University – AZ in the conference tournament final Thursday.
Due to the morning rain delay and the marathon women's match that preceded, the San Diego Christian College men's team would begin two hours later than expected. The men would contest their own lengthy battle that ended with a championship.
The match began with San Diego Christian winning the opening doubles point. Nick Nienhaus and Robin Van den Hoek took down their opponents 6-3, and David Samardzija and Julius Kaufmann came out on top 6-2.
Singles play was a serious battle and seemed to be anyone's match to take. Ivan Smith's 6-1, 6-4 victory was the only match that ended quickly. Julius Kaufmann would grab the third point for the Hawks, winning 6-4, 6-4.
The match would be clinched when Nick Nienhaus won in a second set tie-break 6-0, 7-6 (7-4).
In addition to the GSAC Tournament Championship, the Hawks were also crowned the regular-season champions, going undefeated in the conference. San Diego Christian will receive the automatic berth in the upcoming NAIA Men's National Championship on May 18-22.
Singles competition
1. PAPA, Chris (SDCC) vs. REYES, Andres (OUAZ) 4-6, 5-6, unfinished
2. NIENHAUS, Nick (SDCC) def. TODD, Austin (OUAZ) 6-0, 7-6 (7-4)
3. SMITH, Ivan (SDCC) def. RUDNICKI, Greg (OUAZ) 6-1, 6-4
4. VAN DEN HOEK, Robin (SDCC) vs. KIM, Dong-Hyun (OUAZ) 3-6, 4-4, unfinished
5. LLOYD, Michael (OUAZ) def. SAMARDZIJA, David (SDCC) 6-2, 6-1
6. KAUFMANN, Julius (SDCC) def. SHIN, Michael (OUAZ) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. PAPA, Chris/SMITH, Ivan (SDCC) vs. TODD, Austin/LLOYD, Michael (OUAZ) 5-5, unfinished
2. NIENHAUS, Nick/VAN DEN HOEK, Robin (SDCC) def. REYES, Andres/RUDNICKI, Greg (OUAZ) 6-3
3. SAMARDZIJA, David/KAUFMANN, Julius (SDCC) def. KIM, Dong-Hyun/SHIN, Michael (OUAZ) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,6,5)