April 19, 2009

Final Stats

PHOTO GALLERY

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- The Navy men's tennis team posted a 4-1 victory over Army Sunday afternoon in the championship match of the Patriot League Tournament to win the program's third league title in as many years. The win, Navy's second of the year over the Black Knights in West Point, N.Y., advances the Midshipmen to their fourth NCAA Tournament in 11 years.

Navy has now won 21 consecutive matches against Patriot League opponents, a streak that includes a trio of victories over Army in the final of the league tournament.

"We had a lot of pressure on us today," said Navy head coach John Officer, who guided the Mids to their seventh crown as a member of the Patriot League Sunday. "We had a long winning streak going, Army had their full lineup in place for the first time in awhile and we were playing Army at West Point. Our guys came through great, though.

"I am especially proud of our seniors. Being 4-0 in their careers against Army places them in special company, but it is even more impressive for them to have gone 7-0 in their careers against Army which includes three wins over the Black Knights in the championship match of three league tournaments."

As has so often been the case for the Mids during their run of success, Navy tallied the first point of the day thanks to the play of its doubles teams. The Mids have won the doubles point during each contest of their 21-match conference winning streak, as well as in 21 of 25 overall matches this season.

While Navy's No. 2 team of Nick Birger (So., Belleville, Ill.) and Jason Hill (Sr., Marietta, Ga.) quickly dispatched the team of Chris Albornoz and Bruno Lucivero by the score of 8-2, the remaining two matches were much tighter. After trailing early, Navy's tandem of Nate Nelms (Sr., St. Mary's, Ga.) and Johnny Waters (Sr., Papillion, Neb.) clinched the doubles point for the Mids by recording an 8-5 win over Jason Girdley and Phil Muhawi at No. 1 doubles.

In the match that was stopped due to the doubles point being decided, Army's Sean Harris and Donald Van Velzer held a 7-5 lead over Owen Bullard (So., Concord, N.C.) and Ramsey Lemaich (Jr., Danville, Calif.) at No. 3 doubles.

"Nate and John picked up a big win for us in doubles," said Officer. "That was a huge point for us to have."

Army was able to even the score at one point apiece when Girdley posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Marcus Rebersak (Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) at No. 3 singles. However, the Mids promptly won straight-set matches at Nos. 4-5-6 singles to close out the match and claim the championship.

Navy took the lead back when Bullard won a 6-4, 6-4 decision over Van Velzer at No. 6 singles, then Hill won a 6-3, 6-3 contest over Tripp Johnson to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Mids. The championship-clinching point for the Mids was tallied by Lemaich when he won a 6-3, 6-2 contest over Albornoz at No. 5 singles.

The win improved Lemaich's combined singles and doubles record to 36-0 in career dual-meet matches against Patriot League opponents, with 11 of those wins coming against Army.

"Our depth carried us in singles," said Officer. "Army had another big crowd at the match today, but with us winning three straight-set singles matches we never really let them get into the match. Jason had a great win to give us the lead again, and then Owen and Ramsey closed things out for us."

In the remaining two matches, Muhawi held a 6-4, 3-1 lead over Nelms at No. 1 singles and Harris was leading Waters by the score of 6-4, 1-1 at No. 2 singles.

Nelms was tabbed as the winner of the Joe Abrahamson Award, presented annually to the Most Valuable Player of the Patriot League Tournament. He previously won the award in 2007.

The NCAA Tournament will be played May 8-10 at campus sites across the country. The tournament field and its pairings will be announced April 28 on ESPN News.

Navy def. Army, 4-1
Doubles -- Navy wins the doubles point (match finish order: 2-1)
1. Nelms / Waters (N) def. Girdley / Muhawi, 8-5
2. Nick Birger / Hill (N) def. Albornoz / Lucivero, 8-2
3. Harris / Van Velzer (A) led Bullard / Lemaich, 7-5, DNF
Singles (match finish order: 3-6-4-5)
1. Phil Muhawi (A) led Nate Nelms, 6-4, 3-1, DNF
2. Sean Harris (A) led Johnny Waters, 6-4, 1-1
3. Jordan Girdley (A) def. Marcus Rebersak, 6-2, 6-2
4. Jason Hill (N) def. Tripp Johnson, 6-3, 6-3
5. Ramsey Lemaich (N) def. Chris Albornoz, 6-3, 6-2
6. Owen Bullard (N) def. Donald Van Velzer, 6-4, 6-4