Saturday, November 10, 2007

USF Men's Tennis Closes Out Fall Season With Top Performances

The Dons Compete Well At The Pacific Invitational










STOCKTON, CALIF. - San Francisco men's tennis performed well at the Pacific Invitational held last weekend taking home top honors in doubles, having two individuals play at the semifinal round or higher and having a player win the consolation title.

The Dons' pairings of Asaf Cohen and Rainer Nachbauer, and Torin Ching and Mitch Del Rosario both went undefeated in Round Robin play. Cohen and Nachbauer were 3-0 in Flight B winning contests versus Nevada's Alex Daruty and Cameron Spearman, 8-2, Saint Mary's Achim Christner and Andrea Zannoni, 9-7, and UC Davis' Henry Landes and Kevin Liang, 8-5. In Flight C, Ching and Del Rosario had a 2-0 record beating Nevada's Benjamin David and Augustin Myard, 8-6, and Saint Mary's Youssef El Bouzkouri and Jerry Ellison, 8-5.

USF's Einar Hart and Tu Thong, who battled in Flight A, also went home proud with a 2-1 record. The duo topped Pacific's Artem Gramma and Vegerd Verskimagi, 8-6, and Nevada's Laurent Garcin and Guerin Smith, 9-8.

Dons' senior Falko Huettenberger went 2-1 and took second in Flight B Singles. On route to runner-up honors, Huettenberger defeated Nevada's Smith and Pacific's David Gonzalez. Saint Mary's Andrea Zannoni bested Huettenberger, winning two sets to one in the finals, 1-6; 7-5; 6-2. Cohen made his way to the Flight A Semifinals before losing, 6-3; 6-3, to Nevada's Garcin. Cohen was 1-1 for the tournament.

USF's Nachbauer won the Flight A Singles consolation title with a 2-1 record. Following an opening loss to Saint Mary's Marek Dvorak, 6-4; 6-7(4); 2-6, Nachbauer defeated Pacific's Gramma , 6-2; 6-0, and Justin Garcia of Nevada, 6-7; 6-3, 10-5.

Hart placed second in the Flight B Singles consolation bracket losing, 6-2; 6-0, to Shaun Garcia of UC Davis.

The tournament was the final fall competition for USF. The Dons will next be in action on March 13, 2008 when they host Penn.

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Friday, November 2, 2007

Where are they now:An Interview with Mike Munson c/o'02



Mike Munson from Phoenix,AZ was one of Peter Bartlett's top recruits during the 1998 season. Mike was captain for the team and played singles and doubles for the team. Mike graduated from USF with a degree in finance in 2002.

What are you doing with your life today?
- After I graduated in 2002, I worked in San Francisco for Deloitte until 2004. I moved back home to Arizona, and have been working in finance since then. Currently, I am working for Cole Capital (www.colecapital.com) as a financial reporting analyst. The company is absolutely world class, from the products we sell to the people I work with. Definitely watch for this company to be the leading brand in real estate in the next few years.

I started swimming in the summer of 2001 at USF, and have been hooked ever since. So, I am still swimming and started doing half and full marathons when I moved back home.

I've sorta started to play tennis again. I recently joined a USTA team. Two weeks ago I played my first real match in 5 years. I got waxed. I was hurting in places I never knew I had places for 5 days. Thank God for Advil. I was taking it like candy after that match.

Why did you choose USF?
- As you and Coach will recall, all I wanted to do was hit tennis balls. It was the same during high school. I thought that if I got in with a good college coach, and got a lot of playing time that I might be able to play on the professional circuit after college. USF's team at the time really lined up well with those two requirements. When I came on in 1998, the tennis team was in a rebuilding phase. Coach was/is a world class technician and coach. When I came to the school and met Peter that pretty much sealed the deal.

What were your fondest and most memorable moments playing for USF?
- Well Bulldog(Sean's nickname on the team), there are a couple here. During 2001, my junior year, I had been banged up all season. I was playing the best tennis of my life in Winter of 2000, but I got sick on a trip to Ventura, CA and never got back into that groove. The team goes down to Pepperdine for the WCC Conference(April 2001), and the morning before matches start Coach and I go to Ralph's to get Gatorade and such for the matches. So there we are getting Gatorade, and he tells me that this might be his last season as head coach. It was a shocking moment. I don't know if this was a master stroke by Coach but it really lit a fire under my ass.

Sean: Yeah, I remember you telling me about that before the WCC Conference matches started. I gave it all I had during that Conference tourney winning my match against Pepperdine and Gonzaga. That definitely affected my play during the match against Gonzaga. Here I am coming in during the 2000-2001 year seeing that USF finished 8th for like the past 10 years or what not and here we have a chance to finish 7th for the first time in years. I was playing #6 against Shaun Whitney from Gonzaga and just playing a terrible match. I lost the first set but from what you had said earlier I just kept hanging in there. I was aware the dual match score was 2-2 and I just found a way to win the next 2 sets. It was pure will in that match. I just couldn't let us down and so I fight and claw and win to put us up 3-2 and I go over to your court to see you winning one of the biggest matches for the program (I wonder what would have happened if we had finished 8th again) I run onto your court as if we had won the NCAA Championships when in reality we had just finished 7th in the WCC. That was just a start of something special for the USF Dons Tennis program that many people don't know or simply overlook. I mean here we came from 1/1/2 scholarships playing teams like Pepperdine and SCU who had doubled up on us but in my mind I wanted whoever we played to respect us. That year we never lost 7-0 in any dual match which sounds ludacris now but believe me it meant alot for us back then. Now USF has 4 1/2 scholarships and sometimes the current generation just doesn't know how good they have it. There is no reason the teams now can't finish Top 3 in the WCC on a consistent basis.

MM: Yeah. Peter had spent a lot of time and energy with me developing my game. I couldn't imagine ending the season without really putting everything out there. That day I had a good match against Ryan Redondo--who was #5 for Pepperdine--and ended up beating Joel Wilke of Gonzaga to clinch our #7 spot in the WCC in 2001. After the match everyone rushed the court and Dusty Hall picked me up and carried me around. It was a defining moment in my life.

What did the experience playing under Coach Bartlett teach you about yourself and life?
Coach taught me so much. For me he's my own personal John Wooden. If I had to wrap everything together that he imparted to me, it would be this: Being a great tennis player, or a great anything, isn't an excuse not to be a decent human being. When Coach steps onto the court as a player or a coach, he is always giving everything he has but he never demeans his opponent or the opposing team. All the guys we played against, he always walked up after the match and shook their hand after the match. He was just so classy and dignified about how he treated people. So, that's one thing I have really made a point to do in my life.

Also, when I was playing I always noticed how relentless Coach was at perfecting his craft, and adding to his body of knowledge. During Conference, he would always watch how every other team would warm-up, drill, cool-down, etc. That's something that I am constantly trying to apply to what I do professionally, always looking at what other people do well, and then taking that to apply to what I am doing.

Tennis wise, there were a lot of things that Coach told me over my tenure as a player that took some time to figure out. When we were working on my serve he said, "Mike, you need to find the yoga asana within the serve." I had no idea what he meant at the time. After a few weeks of practice, I figured out that he wanted me to find my own dispassionate rhythm to the serve, something I could call up irregardless of the situation. I still think about that when I go to serve. Then there was another thing he said: "Mike, get down like a big cat." I still have no clue what this means.

Are there any things you wish you could have done better?
- Looking back on the whole thing I really wish I could have won more matches. Other than that, no regrets.

What memorable moments do you have with your teammates that made our team special?
- Well Sean, I still have really great memories of warming up with you before every match we played during 2001. That was cool. There were some others that still make me laugh.

Joel Wilke of Gonzaga had Christian Dyvik's number. Wilke just neutralized Christian's atomic ground strokes. After Christian had lost for the second time in a row he was fiercely angry. He was just walking back and forth on the court like a caged panther. I walked by and heard him say, "He is soooo laz-ay. He is lay-see-er than a hip-hop-a-tay-moose." I laughed so hard I almost soiled myself.

When I was a freshman, our number one player on the team was Asaf Shafir. Asaf was born in Israel, spent some time in high school in New Jersey, so he was still sort of figuring out America. We went to Stockton to play University of the Pacific. It was extremely overcast that day, and we drove through a heavy industrial zone to get to the University.

Asaf says: "This is like ahhhh ahhhh some industrial type of ghetto."
"In my country, Asaf," I began, "We have a word for a place like this. We call it The South." We both lost it. It was hilarious.

What do you hope for future USF Dons tennis teams and the tradition you helped start?
- I hope that the guys on the team really stick together. When I was a freshman, all the guys on the team would go to dinner on Friday night at Little Joe's. So, I hope they do something like that, or have some new traditions that really bring them together like that. Also, a few weeks after my last match as a Don, Peter called me up and took me out for a beer at the Plough and Stars--the greatest Irish bar in the Richmond. He said it was a tradition. I hope he is still doing this. Back then people could smoke in bars, and there was an Irish folk band playing. We each had a pint of Guinness and just hung out. It was a great moment.


What are your thoughts on Coach Bartlett and his coaching philosophy? Did you feel he helped you on the court and off?
- I'd say that Coach's philosophy is very simple: Always put yourself in a situation to win. Even though it's a simple statement, there's a lot of planning, and training that goes into executing that philosophy. I really didn't understand this that well when I was playing for him, but now that I have been removed from competitive tennis for a few years now, I have a much better grasp of what he meant. The beauty of this philosophy is that it applies to anything you do.

I've always been a big quote guy. When I was a freshman, Peter pulled me aside and said, "Mike Munson," you know how he starts sentences with his players name, "Practice consistently. You don't need to kill yourself each day, but make sure you get in touch with the ball each day." This applies to anything you are working on. If you really want to achieve a high level of success, you need to "get in touch" with your craft every day. Practice, practice, practice, but understand the balance. He would also say, "Listen to the body." So he basically set the stage for understanding how to train and push myself professionally.

What advice would you give to the next generation of players as they leave the world of college tennis for the working world?
- Well, after you graduate you will kinda have to rebuild your life. After I graduated I cut back on playing tennis, and started swimming competitively, and I worked a lot. So I was doing things, but it was much different than college where there's always something going on, good guys from the team to hang out with, etc. So, I'd just say be ready for things to be different than college, and go out and do different things.

When most guys on the team think about Mike Munson, other than your work ethic, the first things that people probably remember is your laugh and your monstrous appetite. You haven't lost those have you?
- The laugh is still the same. It's genetic. I'll have that until the day I die. As far as the appetite, I've had to taper that back. After I graduated and started working, I'd still eat enormous portions of food. Ask Coach. He seriously encouraged me to think about being a competitive eater or "food fighter." Well, it caught up to me pretty fast. I ballooned up to one-hundred and ninety pounds plus. It was a wake-up call. So since then, I've had to eat smaller portions more frequently.

Sean: Yeah I hope your are staying in decent shape. Man could you eat. Then again we were like professional athletes working our everyday. I remember we went to In and Out and you use to plow through those burgers like they were going out of style.

Anything else?
- Nope, that's about all that I have have in the tank right now. But if any of the guys want to shoot me an email, my account is munsonmichael@hotmail.com.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Ching Places Second In Consolation Bracket At Chandler Cup




Junior Wins Three Matches Before Losing In Consolation Finals
BERKELEY, CALIF. - Junior Torin Ching was the top USF performer, winning three matches and placing second in the Flight C Singles Consolation bracket, at the Chandler Cup Invitational held over the weekend.

Following a 6-2, 6-4, loss to Cal's Andy Chirita in the round of 32, Ching topped Orion Ashmore and Tony Bulich of Nevada, 6-1, 6-3 and 6-3, 7-6 (5) respectively. In the consolation semifinals Ching defeated UC San Diego's Chad Becker, 6-4, 6-4 to qualify for the finals. Facing his third Nevada opponent, Kristian Kuharsky, Ching took a one set lead winning 6-4 to open the consolation championship match. Kuharsky, however, proved fatal as he went on to win the next two sets, 6-0 and 1-0 (10-6).

Teaming with Rainer Nahbauer, Ching also won two doubles' matches and finished in the semifinal round, where him and his partner were beat by Washington's Ryo Sekiguchi and Skyler Tateishi, 8-6.

Senior Falko Huettenberger had another notable finish for the Dons. The Germany native won 6-2, 6-3 over Sacramento State's Sven-David Rueff in the round of 32 and 6-4, 6-0 against Cal's Nico Horgen in the round of 16. His run ended in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 loss to Washington's Sekiguchi.

The USF men's tennis team will be back in action on November 9 - 11 as they attend the Pacific Invitational in Stockton , Calif. BERKELEY, CALIF. - Sophomore Torin Ching was the top USF performer, winning three matches and placing second in the Flight C Singles Consolation bracket, at the Chandler Cup Invitational held over the weekend.

Following a 6-2, 6-4, loss to Cal's Andy Chirita in the round of 32, Ching topped Orion Ashmore and Tony Bulich of Nevada, 6-1, 6-3 and 6-3, 7-6 (5) respectively. In the consolation semifinals Ching defeated UC San Diego's Chad Becker, 6-4, 6-4 to qualify for the finals. Facing his third Nevada opponent, Kristian Kuharsky, Ching took a one set lead winning 6-4 to open the consolation championship match. Kuharsky, however, proved fatal as he went on to win the next two sets, 6-0 and 1-0 (10-6).

Teaming with Rainer Nahbauer, Ching also won two doubles' matches and finished in the semifinal round, where him and his partner were beat by Washington's Ryo Sekiguchi and Skyler Tateishi, 8-6.

Junior Falko Huettenberger had another notable finish for the Dons. The Germany native won 6-2, 6-3 over Sacramento State's Sven-David Rueff in the round of 32 and 6-4, 6-0 against Cal's Nico Horgen in the round of 16. His run ended in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 loss to Washington's Sekiguchi.

The USF men's tennis team will be back in action on November 9 - 11 as they attend the Pacific Invitational in Stockton , Calif.


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Del Rosario Advances To Consolation Quarterfinals At ITA Regionals




Seattle, Wash. - San Francisco's Mitch Del Rosario defeated Gabe Kanzelmeyer of Nevada (7-6, 6-1) to advance the consolation quarterfinals Sunday at the 2007 Wilson/ITA Northwest Regional Championships.

After losing a three-set match to Kevin Kaiser of Stanford (3-6, 6-3, 2-6), Del Rosario toppedd Saint Mary's Matt Welty by scored of 6-3, 6-2 to set up yesterday's victory over Kanzelmeyer. Results on Monday's quarterfinals match will be posted as soon as available.

In the winner's bracket, USF's Thong Tu and Asaf Cohen made it to the round of 32 before being knocked out of the competition. Tu took Sacramento State's Tim Lantin, 6-2, 7-6 and Cohen won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 over Cal's Geoff Chizever to advance. Two Washington players were the end point for the duo as Tobi Obenaus topped Tu, 6-2, 6-1, and Andy Kuharszky defeated Cohen, 6-2, 6-0.

The doubles pairing of Cohen and Del Rosario won 8-6 over Washington's Bator and Tateishi to advance to the round of 16 where Stanford's Kelly and Muller disposed of them, 8-1.

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Thursday, September 27, 2007

A look back at Matthew Berry's final point as a USF Don





Senior Matthew Berry(Capetown,South Africa)had a stellar 2006-2007 season at the #1 position for the University of San Francisco Men's Tennis team. After playing two years at the University of Tennessee,Matthew's contributions to the USF program have been tremendous. Here's a look back at his final point during the WCC Conference against University of Portland at USD April 22,2007.

USF Tennis starts off fall with Exhibition vs.British Universities

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USF Tennis 2007-2008 Preview

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Former USF Don serves as hitting partner for Tennis Great Pete Sampras

Subscribe to USF Men's Tennis 2007






Former University of San Francisco Don Alum Pablo Pires De Almeida c/o 05 served as a hitting partner for tennis Legend Pete Sampras last month at The Hennessy Funds Alumni Legends Cup on September 8 and 9 at the Tiburon Peninsula Club in Tiburon, Calif. The tournament also consisted of an event that had top players from Stanford, Cal, USC and UCLA. The PAC-10 schools were comprised of players that span the past four decades. Players were grouped in age groups of 20's, 30's, 35's, 40's and 50's. The Cup also offered an exhibition match featuring former world number one legend Pete Sampras taking on San Francisco native and rising tennis star Sam Querrey. That match will be held on September 9th.

Sampras gets testy in Tiburon exhibition match

There may be some premature baldness developing on the top of his head and the timing in his tennis game is off right now, but make no mistake that Pete Sampras, at age 36, still loves to win more than the next guy.
Chair umpire Larry McMullen ought to know.

Although Sampras was playing a fun and relaxed exhibition match Sunday during the Alumni Legends Cup in Tiburon, the retired 14-time Grand Slam singles champion became annoyed when, in the seventh game of the first set, his opponent - talented 19-year-old Sam Querrey - hit a backhand down the line that a linesman ruled in. Sampras thought the shot was closer to Mill Valley than in and asked McMullen to overrule.

He didn't.

"Are you embarrassed? You should be embarrassed,"

PISTOL PETE: PEte Sampras flashes a smile as he serves against Sam Querrey in their exhibition match Sunday at the Tiburon Peninsula Club. (Special to the IJ/Douglas Zimmerman)said Sampras, turning serious. Then Pistol Pete walked to the sideline below the umpire's chair to towel off and let off some steam.
"I don't get pissed off much, but that pissed me off," Sampras snapped at McMullen.

So there you have it. Sampras came to Tiburon to get tested and he got testy instead.

"No respect out there," Sampras joked later.

He's not kidding.

While Sampras' next opponent, Roger Federer, took the stage at Arthur Ashe Court in the U.S. Open dressed in black Sunday in front of a packed house and national television audience, Sampras appeared in a white shirt and white Dusty Baker-sized wristbands on the stadium court at the Tiburon Peninsula Club in front of a crowd that was closer to 1,000 than the 2,000 the facility holds.
That's a shame. The Oakland Raiders, arguably the worst team in professional football, manage to attract a sellout crowd on Sundays while Sampras, arguably the greatest tennis player ever, couldn't fill the place in a tennis-mad area.

Well, they missed quite an exhibition. After that controversial call, Sampras fought off nine set points to win that game. He eventually lost the first set 6-4, but he won the next set 7-6 by winning the tiebreaker 7-2. But, in the decisive 10-point match tiebreaker, the 6-foot-6 Querrey prevailed 10-6.

"That's fun for me because there's no greater challenge for me to go out and play someone who's half my age," Sampras said. "He's (ranked) 48th in the world he's just going to get better and better. To play at that level is a big challenge for me to keep up."

In all fairness, Querrey has beaten several players in the top 25 this year (James Blake, Tommy Haas, Mikhail Youzny and Juan Monaco) and Sampras hasn't been playing or practicing regularly since he retired from competitive tennis in 2005. He's been busy golfing while raising two boys with his wife, actress Bridgette Wilson. He's not in his best tennis shape.

"I'm like an old beat-up truck," Sampras quipped.

If so, the exterior may be a tad rusty and the tires may have less tread, but the motor still has some get up and go. Sampras' serve has some sting left and his forehand still has some zip. After his exhibition singles match, he teamed with TPC pro Brandon Coupe, who recently was named assistant coach at Stanford, in a doubles match against Querrey and 24-year-old Pablo Pires de Almeida of Fairfax. Sampras and Coupe won 12-10, 10-3 in a pair of tiebreakers.

OK, so Sampras wasn't exactly Wimbledon-ready. He grunted to get to some balls and he popped up one service return that landed beyond the grandstand in a clump of trees. Consider it his mulligan for the day.

"I kind of surprise myself every now and again," Sampras said. "At the same time, I see myself missing (shots) a little more, like today. It's like I'm old now."

Old enough, albeit, to take on the undisputed king of the court, the 26-year-old Federer, the man who is two Grand Slam titles from tying Sampras' record. They will play a series of three exhibition matches five days apart, beginning on Nov. 20 in Seoul, South Korea. They're talking about doing some exhibitions in the U.S, too, after they earn what Sampras said was some "Christmas money" playing each other in Asia.

"I don't know what to expect," Sampras said. "I think initially the first couple of games I'll be like a caged lion, trying to hold my own a little bit. But I practiced with him (at Sampras' house in L.A. for two days earlier this year) and I held my own É I hope to be competitive. I don't want to embarrass myself. I want to go out and play well."

Evidently, Sampras played well enough against his opponent Sunday that Querry is ready to bet his Christmas bonus that Federer will have his hands full.

"I'd be surprised if Pete didn't take him out," said Querrey, who was living in Santa Rosa when Sampras beat Boris Becker in 1995 to win Wimbledon then beat Andre Agassi in the U.S. Open finals the same year.

That, of course, assumes that Sampras is going to start training hard and playing more than two or three times a week against some college kids.

"Mentally I'm fine," Sampras said. "Physically I'm actually OK, but tennis-wise I'm just not as sharp."

That's the main reason Sampras came to play in Tiburon, where the first Alumni Legends Cup was won by Stanford, which defeated UCLA 6-1 in the finals. Competing against Querrey in a competitive environment was a test for Sampras to gauge where he stands for the "true test" when he plays Federer.

How did Sampras grade himself Sunday?

"Seven and half," he said on a scale of 1-to-10. "If you balanced it out, the linesmen were about a two."

courtesy of Marin Independent Journal

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Sunday, August 26, 2007

US OPEN 2007



As the 2007-2008 USF Dons season kicks underway yours truly has had a great opportunity to coach former All-American star from UC Cal Berkeley and 2004 graduate Raquel Kops-Jones of Fresno, CA at the US OPEN in Flushing Meadows, NY. Arriving here on Sunday August 19th, Raquel and I put in some good practices as she prepared for the women’s qualifying event. Lots of sparring with other WTA tour players and myself really had Raquel in good form.

Raquel currently 170 WTA needed to win three rounds in the qualifying draw to make the big stage. Rain delays and bad timing prevented her from going on first on at 11a.m. on Tuesday the 21st as we waited from 9 in the morning all the way till 6p.m. before they canceled play. Since she was scheduled to play early on Tuesday they made her play last on Wednesday. Raquel toughed out a 3 set match against a girl from Slovenia and was even cramping in the third but survived. At last round one completed as we leave flushing at 10:30p.m. to catch the bus. A sense of relief but joy from me is what has transpired as I look ahead to her 2nd round match.

Thursday comes around and she is 4th up on court 11. We wait for the Hugo Armando match to end and as soon as he does, we find out she has been switched to court 13. Raquel comes out firing and wins the first set against the 23 seed from China and jumps out to an early 5-1 lead in the second. Coast looks clear and I am already thinking wow she’s going to be in the last round of qualies!!! Well 5-2 goes by then 5-3 as I get a little tense inside and pretty soon it is 5-4 and I am thinking uh oh. Raquel gathers her composure and calmly serves out the match!!! What a sense of joy to see she is in the last round of qualies at the US OPEN. I am happy but realize she has some things she needs to work on and so I say to her right after the match lets go back on the practice court for 15 minutes as it near 10p.m. EST. We work on a few areas for those 15 minutes and go to the locker rooms and get ready for Thursdays battle as we leave Flushing late at night again.

Raquel is 4th on court 7 on Thursday and we anxiously wait the conclusion of the Scoville Jenkins match in the gym as we do some movement drills to get her going. The gym is packed with everyone doing the little extra it takes. I look over and Robby Ginepri is working on his core stability with the medicine ball with his trainer. Other WTA players are working on their flexibility, and a bunch of others are on the treadmills. Quickly the Scoville Jenkins match is over as his opponenet retires and just like that is it showtime. As she steps on to court 7 for the last round of qualies to battle against a girl from the Ukraine there is a good size crowd cheering her on as she is one of the few Americans left. Raquel again jumps out to a 3-1 lead and is playing well only to squander and lose the first set 7-6. Opportunity gone. Second set up comes around and she is up 3-1 and her opponent is about to have a mental breakdown. Raquel unfortunately plays a sloppy game and just like that it is 3-2 with it being back on serve. A pivotal 6th game goes back and fourth with the umpire making a terrible call on the far side against Raquel which would have given her a break point and turn the momentum right around. She indeed wins the next point which could have made it 4-2 but the girl is hanging tough and holds. I can feel the momentum slipping and just like that it goes break, hold, break and Raquel loses 6-3. The dream is over for the 2007 US OPEN. The hard work of the week has paid off but the opportunity to play in the big stage is gone. It was a tough feeling but sometimes you learn more from the losses than you do from the wins. It kind of reminded me of our chance this past April against USD in the 1st round of the WCC Championships and how we did not take what was ours. You only have so many opportunities to show what you are made of and the good players and teams always rise to the occasion and never let the moment pass them by. Hopefully all of these experiences will make her and our USF Dons team mentally tougher in the future. Go Dons!!!

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Former USF Don picks up first professional win



Pablo Pires de Almeida, who played tennis at Drake High and USF, earned his first professional doubles victory in an ATP-sanctioned tournament Monday. He won his first-round match with partner Adam Davidson at the $75,000 Comerica Challenger, a USTA event in Aptos (Santa Cruz County).

The unseeded team of Pires de Almeida and Davidson, formerly of Azusa Pacific University, knocked off the No. 3 seeded team of Kristian Pless of Denmark and Kamil Capkovic of Slovakia, 6-1, 4-6, 10-7. Pless has been a pro since 1999 and entered the Aptos tournament ranked No. 80 in singles.

During the past two years, Pires de Almeida had been 0-4 in main-draw, ATP-level doubles matches before Monday, according to the ATP Web site. He won a singles match in October 2006 at a Futures tournament in Mexico, but lost in the second round.

The Comerica Challenger is hardcourt tournament at Seascape Sports Club and considered one of the starting points to the summer hardcourt season that culminates at the U.S. Open. The doubles champions split $4,650; Pires de Almeida guaranteed at least $465 with Monday's victory, giving him is first professional payday.

courtesy of Marin Independent Journal

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

USF Tennis Legend Harry Likas To Be Inducted Wednesday Into Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame


USF tennis star Harry Likas, who won the 1948 NCAA singles championship and is a member of the University's Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducted into the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame on Wednesday, May 23rd.

The induction will take place during the NCAA Championships at the University of Georgia in Athens.

"Harry Likas is a class act," said current USF men's tennis coach Peter Bartlett. "He put USF tennis on the map and helped build the program that won the national championship in 1949. We are proud to have him in the Hall."

"I am very honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Likas. "It is great for people to know that USF had a top, top program and remember what we accomplished. Winning the singles championship in 1948 was fantastic and this is the icing on the cake."

Likas was honored at the USF "Night of Champions Dinner" and was written up in the commemorative book, "Legends of the Hilltop."

His biography from that publication:

Prior to winning the 1948 NCAA Singles Championship, Harry Likas had established a successful track record in singles competition, especially on the West Coast. He had won the California State Junior, Pacific Coast Junior and the Western Junior titles. He also had advanced to the quarter-finals in the first post war match of the U.S. Open in Forest Hills in October 1946. Later that year, he was one of sixteen top tennis players in the U.S. invited to participate in the Sugar Bowl Invitational.

As the Dons opened their 1947 spring season, Likas was ranked number 15 in the U.S. He had already defeated many of the top players and was considered "an outstanding young player who will go far."

Seeded number one for USF, Likas handily defeated players from Santa Clara, St. Mary's, University of the Pacific and San Francisco State in both singles and doubles. At season-end, the Don netters boasted an outstanding record, sweeping all Bay Area competition en route to winning the Northern California Collegiate crown.

In his last year for the Dons, Likas-with one exception-won every match he played, including the Northern California Invitational where his deadly backhand defeated Don teammate Conway Catton (6-1, 6-4). Likas and Harry Roche teamed to win their doubles match as the Dons won the team title and were presented with the William Johnson Memorial Trophy.

The following month, Likas bested Catton to win the Ojai Invitational. The headline in the Foghorn read, "Likas Rammycackles All Comers in Ojai Invitational." Likas then went on to capture the 1948 NCAA Singles Championship. Seeded number five, he awed the three top players, finally upsetting top seed Victor Seixas of North Carolina in a hard fought 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 match to take the title.

Harry Likas continued on the tennis circuit outpacing five Wimbledon Champions in sectional play before joining the corporate world in 1949.

He attended Lowell High School before coming to the Hilltop.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Matthew Berry Named First Team All-West Coast Conference



Thong Tu named to second team, Asaf Cohen honorable mention


May 3, 2007

USF senior Matthew Berry, who recorded a 27-7 singles mark at number one singles this season, has been named first team all-West Coast Conference.

Berry, a senior from South Africa, came on strong at the end of the season, winning his last 10 singles matches and 16 of his last 18 decisions, all at number one singles. On the year his dual match record was 21-4 and he won all three matches in the WCC Championships.

"Matt had a special year," said Dons head coach Peter Bartlett. "It is great to have a senior leader at number one who consistently earns you a point match in and match out. He is well respected throughout the league and truly deserved this honor."

Sophomore Thong Tu, a sophomore from Alameda was named second team all-West Coast Conference and Asaf Cohen, a freshman from Tel Aviv, Israel was named honorable mention.

Tu had a strong season, recording a 22-11 record, 16-8 in dual matches. He was 6-1 at the number two slot and 10-6 at the third position.

Cohen won seven of his last ten singles matches

Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Andre Begemann, Pepperdine
Freshman of the Year: Bassam Beidas, Pepperdine
Coach of the Year: Michael Wayman, Saint Mary's


2007 Men's Singles All-Conference Team
First Team
Bassam Beidas, Pepperdine
Andre Begemann, Pepperdine
Matthew Berry, San Francisco
James Lemke, Pepperdine
Thomas Liversage, San Diego
Andre Sion, Saint Mary's


Second Team
Chris Coetzee, San Diego
Joel Kusnierz, Saint Mary's
Jan Macek, Santa Clara
Matt Ozurovich, San Diego
Bobby Rasmussen, Santa Clara
Thong Tu, San Francisco
Jay Wong, Santa Clara


Honorable Mention
Marco Pineda, GON; Richard Johnson, PEP; Charl Wolmarans, USD; Asaf Cohen, USF; Brian Brogan, SCU; Blane Shields, SCU


2007 Men's Doubles All-Conference Team
First Team
Richard Johnson & Omar Altmann, Pepperdine
Andre Begemann & Mahmoud Kamel, Pepperdine
Filip Zivkovic & Colby Jager, Portland


Second Team
Bassam Beidas & James Lemke, Pepperdine
Chris Coetzee & Thomas Liversage, San Diego
Jan Macek & Bobby Rasmussen, Santa Clarad finished the season 19-12 overall and 16-8 in dual matches.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Any Given Sunday... Dons claim 5th place at WCC Championships




The University of San Francisco Men's team defeated 4th seeded University of Portland this afternoon on the beautiful campus of USD. The Dons knew exactly what was at stake and came to play. The key to the match was Freshman Rainer Nachbauer(Bregenz, Austria) and Sophomore Torin Ching(Honolulu, Hawaii) doubles play at the #2 spot to clinch the doubles point against the Pilots winning in a 9-8(4)slugfest. University of Portland is best known for their strong doubles play and with the Dons able to clinch the doubles point, it just made everything that much easier as it popped the Pilots spirit going into singles play. Senior Matthew Berry(Capetown,South Africa)as he has been doing all year continued his winning form in his last ever collegiate match. Rainer Nachbauer playing #4 clinched his match to give the Dons a convincing 3-0 lead. After Falko Huettenberger lost in a tough three setter Tommy Tu who had been sick all conference tournament fittingly clinched the dual match for the Dons giving the 6th seeded Dons the right to the 5th place spot in the WCC tournament. The Dons who have learned alot as a team will go down on paper as the 5th best team in the WCC Conference tournament for 2007 but deep down inside they could easily have finished Top 3 again but unfortunately did not get the job done against USD on the first day.Opportunities come and go and hopefully this team and future teams will realize just how important every match in the West Coast Conference Tournament is. Thank you for the great memories 2006-2007 USF Dons as we keep the tradition for past, present and future teams alive. Go Dons!!!


Dons Top Pilots 4-1 to Take Fifth Place in WCC Championships
USF concludes season with win over fourth seed


April 22, 2007


The USF men's tennis team concluded a successful trip to the WCC Championships with a 4-1 win over fourth seed Portland Sunday at the University of San Diego. The Dons finished fifth in the event and concluded their season with a 13-13 mark.

The Dons broke ahead early, taking the doubles point as Torin Ching and Rainer Nachbauer won in a tiebreaker at two and Asaf Cohen and Mitch Del Rosario won 8-5 at the three slot.

Matthew Berry continued his red shot play winning 6-3, 6-1 at number one his 17th victory in the last 19 contests over Filip Zivkovic 6-3, 6-1. Rainier Nachbauer defeated Colby Jager 6-3, 6-1 at four and after Falko Huettenberger dropped a tough three set decision to Alex Strom, the Dons clinched fifth place with Thong Tu's three set (7-6, 2-6, 6-3) victory over Joel Kinkaid.


Consolation Final (5th place)
No. 6 San Francisco 4, No. 4 Portland 1
Doubles:
#1 Jager/Zivkovic (POR) def. Berry/Huettenberger (USF) 8-6
#2 Ching/Nachbauer (USF) def. Strom/Yemm (POR) 9-8 (7-4)
#3 Cohen/Rosario (USF) def. Kincaid/Schleining (POR) 8-5
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2

Singles:
#1 â013 Matthew Berry (USF) def. Filip Zivkovic (POR) 6-3, 6-1
#2 â013 Alex Strom (POR) def. Falko Huettenberger (USF) 6-2, 6-7 (7-3), 6-3
#3 â013 Thong Tu (USF) def. Joel Kincaid (POR) 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-3
#4 â013 Ranier Nachbauer (USF) def. Colby Jager (POR) 6-3, 6-1
#5 â013 Charlie Yemm (POR) vs. Asaf Cohen (USF) Did Not Finish
#6 â013 Scott Kennel (POR) vs. Mitch Del Rosario (USF) Did Not Finish
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 3

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Getting to know Sophomore Torin Ching




Sophomore Torin Ching is currently a political science major and comes from Honolulu, Hawaii.

Why did you choose USF and what other universities were you considering?

I chose USF for it’s close location to Hawaii and academic reputation along with a great opportunity to play NCAA Division 1 Tennis. I also was considering University of Pacific, Loyola Marymount, and University of Hawaii. I don’t regret my decision as my experience has been rewarding.

How did you get started in tennis?

At 7 years old my father took me out to Kaneohe public park and that is where it all began. I admired Michael Chang when I was younger and watched many of his spectacular matches. That gave me motivation to want to excel in the game of tennis.

What are your plans for summer of 2007?

Academically, I plan to keep focused on my academics by taking summer school classes back home at the University of Hawaii. I plan to play the ITA Summer Circuit in Southern California with teammate Mitch Del Rosario( Fremont,CA) as well as Open tournaments with Assistant Coach Billy Ball. I look to keep working on my conditioning and prepare for the Fall of 2007.


What are your thoughts about the 5th/6th WCC Conference Match tomorrow against University of Portland?

University of Portland is a solid team in singles and doubles. In March we lost a heartbreaking 5-2 decision to them in the Boise State Invitational. We all knew as a team we were capable of winning but we did not play up to our potential. Because of all the hard work throughout the season such as our 6a.m. Morning Madness(7 miles at Ocean Beach) runs along with countless hours spent in the weight room and on the tennis court we are prepared and realize that it has all come down to this last match of our season. After the bitter taste of losing to them in March, we look to recover and finish strong especially for our lone graduating senior Matthew Berry(Capetown, South Africa).

What is the biggest difference you have noticed in the level of play in your transition from Hawaii to here at University of San Francisco?

In college tennis the guys have more weaponry such as bigger serves and ground strokes. There are longer rallies with more shots having depth. Players are more relentless and never willing to give up. Teams support is a big advantage and there is a lot more camaraderie within the team.

What do you fellow teammates call you?

My teammates call me T.K., Cha-Ching, Hawaii, Mama- Ching, Kim Kui, Massive Calves, and Torn.


Why do they call you Mama-Ching and Massive Calves?

Teammate Tommy Tu started to call me Mama-Ching at a team dinner because I always clean up after everyone and as team captain make sure they are following instructions. Matthew Berry decided to call me massive calves after he figured out I have the biggest calves team (which is not true). Actually freshman Einar Hart has the biggest calves on our squad.

As a player for the University of San Francisco what would you like to best be remembered by?

I would like to be remembered by my teammates as the person who has the best work ethic on the court in the weight room, and is a person who is the first person to be at practice and always the last one to leave. I know with hard work, the rest will take care of itself. Go Dons!!!

Dons defeat Loyola Marymount in Consolation Semifinal Round 4-2












A testament to the character of the University of San Francisco Dons showed this afternoon as they were able to defeat Loyola Marymount 4-2 in the consolation semifinal round and regroup after a heartbreaking loss to USD earlier this morning. The Dons played the match on the courts of San Diego State University and were able to show the heart and guts of what this team is truly made of. The Dons down 1-0 after losing the doubles point got on the board when Matthew Berry(Capetown,South Africa)defeated his opponent in straights. Next up for the Dons was Rainer Nachbauer giving the Dons a 2-1 lead. Mitch Del Rosario(Fremont,CA) playing at the #6 spot stepped it up and won in three sets. Lastly, Asaf Cohen (Tel Aviv,Israel) clinched the match for the Dons with a 6-2,7-6 victory giving the Dons a 4-2 victory. The Dons will play University of Portland Sunday Morning at 9a.m. for the right to claim 5th place in the West Coast Conference tournament.

It's like a Dream.. You Wake up and It's Gone






The University of San Francisco Men's Tennis Team had a golden opportunity this morning against the University of San Diego Toreros in 1st round play of the WCC Conference tounament. Unfortunately it was not to be as the moment of opportunity slipped right through their hands. The lack of experience and the sense of urgency played true to part as matches were finished off and the Dons dreams of reaching the semifinal round were done in 5 minutes. Falko Huettenberger (Stuttgart, Germany) was unable to hold at 5-6 deuce in the second set which gave the Toreros a 2-1 lead. Asaf Cohen(Tel Aviv,Israel) down 3-5 Ad out could not break as his opponenet closed it out to give the Toreros a 3-1 lead. That left our two freshman Einar Hart(Bodo,Norway) and Rainer Nachbauer(Bregenz,Austria) still on court. Rainer was able to break and serve out the second set when Einar Hart could not break down 5-3 and before we knew it, it was over. The Dons will pick it up at 1:30p.m. at the SDSU courts against Loyola Marymount University. The Dons will rebound and still have a great shot to finish Top 5 in the tournament. Go Dons!!!

Friday, April 20, 2007

Day 1 of the West Coast Conference Championships




The #6 seed University of San Francisco Dons Men's Tennis Team came to play today against the University of San Diego Toreros in day 1 action of the West Coast Conference Tournament. The match was held at the famous Barnes Tennis Center. Conditions were a little bit tough with winds and slight drizzle occuring during the matches. The Dons were able to get on the board as Matthew Berry as he has been doing all year stepped it up again beating Thomas Liversage. Jonas Mouly however evened it up for the Toreros defeating Tommy Tu in straight sets. The Dons are still hanging tough even though losing the first sets in matches #2,4,5,6. The Dons are battling and will continue play tomorrow morning at 9a.m. at the main courts at USD. Check back for more updates. Go Dons!!!

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

San Diego here we come!!!

The West Coast Conference tournament has arrived upon us April 20-22nd, 2007 down in sunny San Diego,CA. The Dons are looking to peak at just the right time and finish the year in top form. Yours truly will be down for all the action so please stay tuned for all of the results. Here's a look back at last year's WCC 3rd place finish over Santa Clara University. The Dons look to build on their recent victories over St. Mary's and University of Pacific. Anything can happen during conference time. Go Dons!!!

Saturday, April 14, 2007

USF Handles Pacific on Senior Day




As the rain and clouds cleared away, the USF Men's Tennis team was able to host the University of Pacific at the beautiful Olympic Club this Saturday afternoon with some great support as the Dons took care of business and now look forward to the WCC Championships. It was Senior Matthew Berry's(Capetown,South Africa) last home match for the Dons and as he has been doing all season he stepped it up at #1 with a win. Great support for the team was shown all around as former players and alumni along with the support of Athletic Director Debbie Gore-Mann were present. A great barbeque and beautiful weather made it another illustrious day for the Green and Gold. As the journey of the 2006-2007 season comes closer to an end, it is important that we must keep the momentum and support of USF Men's Tennis along with Women's Tennis for the future of USF Tennis remains brighter than ever. San Diego,California here we come. Go Dons!!!


Dons defeat Pacific 6-0 on Senior Day at The Olympic Club
USF heads to WCC Championships in San Diego Friday


April 14, 2007

USF men's tennis celebrated Senior Day by sweeping past visiting Pacific 6-0 in a rain delayed match Saturday at the Olympic Club. It was the final tuneup for USF before opening play in the WCC Championships next Friday in San Diego.

The match was delayed until 3:15 due to a morning rain, but after the senior ceremonies for Matthew Berry, it did not take the Dons long to get started.

The match began with singles, and USF got straight set wins by Berry, Falko Huettenberger, Rainier Nachbauer, Asaf Cohen and Greg Hom. USF also got a win at number two by Thong Tu that was decided in a 10-point tiebreaker.

For Berry, the only Dons' senior, the win at number one was his 14th in the last 16 contests.

The doubles competition was not played.


SAN FRANCISCO 6, PACIFIC 0
SINGLES COMPETITION
1. Matthew Berry (USF) def. Moritz Starke (UOP) 7-6 (0), 6-0
2. Thong Tu (USF) def. Vegerd Veskimagi (UOP) 5-7, 6-1 (10-4)
3, Falko Huettenberger (USF) def. Alan Kelly (UOP) 6-1, 6-3
4. Rainer Nachbauer (USF) def. Ahad Ebrahim (UOP) 6-1, 6-2
5. Asaf Cohen (USF) def. Chase Oliphant (UOP) 6-1, 6-0
6. Greg Hom (USF) def. Robert Price (UOP) 6-0, 6-3
DOUBLES COMPETITION
Not Played

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Men's Tennis battles University of Pacific on Saturday







NCAA Division 1 Tennis Match at the Olympic Club

When: Saturday April 14, 2007

Where: Lakeside Tennis Courts

Details: USF Men’s Tennis vs. U.O.P Tigers @1p.m.

Free Barbeque for all Tennis Section Members and Dons Fans!!!

Dress Code: No Denim!!!

It's all about Heart as USF finds a way to defeat St. Mary's 4-3





The University of San Francisco Men's Tennis team proved why they will be a force to reckon with come Conference time April 20-22nd down in San Diego,CA as they willed themselves to a victory when the chips were down and out Monday afternoon at the Olympic Club. The Dons coming off a stinging defeat from last Saturday rebounded with a clutch doubles point and Matthew Berry, Tommy Tu, and Asaf Cohen stepping it up to clinch the dual match victory. The three showed tremendous heart as all matches were nailbiters and only a few points seperated each outcome. Cohen and Tu both down one set each dug deep with Cohen winning 6-3 in the third and Tu clinching the dual match with a 6-4 in the third victory.The Dons last match will be Saturday the 14th at 1p.m. against U.O.P. with a barbeque for all spectators. Come out and support as we celebrate the Lone Senior Matthew Berry in his final home match. Go Dons!!!

Dons Rally Past Saint Mary's in Men's Tennis 4-3; Host Pacific Saturday on Senior Day
Tu and Cohen Rally with three set wins; Berry wins again


April 9, 2007


The USF Dons got come from behind three set wins by Thong Tu and Asaf Cohen and a straight set win by Matthew Berry at number one in defeating Saint Mary's 4-3 in men's tennis Monday at the Olympic Club.

The match started with USF winning the doubles point with wins by the teams of Falko Huettenberger and Berry winning 8-6 and the combo of Tu and Mitch Del Rosario taking a 9-8 win.

At singles, USF again got a solid performance by Matthew Berry in a 7-6, 6-4 win over Joel Kusnierz. It was Berry's 24th win in 30 decisions this season.

The key to the victory was the three set, come from behind wins by Asaf Cohen and Thong Tu. Cohen lost the first set to Yury Platanov before taking a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win while Tu rallied from a first set loss to defeat Achim Christner 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

USF hosts Pacific Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Olympic Club on senior day when Matthew Berry will be honored.


College Tennis
at the Olympic Club

SAN FRANCISCO 4, SAINT MARY'S 3
SINGLES COMPETITION
1. Matthew Berry (USF) def. Joel Kusnierz (SMC) 7-6, 6-4
2. Andre Sion (SMC) def. Falko Huettenberger (USF) 6-4, 6-3
3. Thong Tu (USF) def. Achim Christner (SMC) 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Adam Fauvre (SMC) def. Rainer Nachbauer (USF) 6-4, 6-7 (10-2)
5. Asaf Cohen (USF) def. Yury Platanov 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Andrea Zannoni (SMC) def. Einar Hart (USF) 6-3, 6-2
DOUBLES COMPETITION
1. Huetterberger/Berry (USF) d. Fauvre/Sion 8-6
2. Platanov/Kusnierz (UCF) def. Cohen/Nachbauer (USF) 8-4
3. Tu/Del Rosario (USF) def. Zannoni/Ozpinar(SMC) 9-8

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Sacramento State Hornets Sting Dons 4-3 in a Heartbreaker






The Sacramento State Hornets squeezed past the Dons this afternoon in Sacramento,CA.The Dons will regroup this Monday afternoon at the Olympic Club with a key match up against WCC Opponent St. Mary's of Moraga. First match will start at 2p.m. The Dons are currently 9-12 on the season with two more home matches at the Olympic Club before West Coast Conference play takes place on the campus of the University of San Diego. Time to step it up.

Dons Fall 4-3 in Men's Tennis at Sacramento State, Host St. Mary's Monday
Matthew Berry again wins at number one


April 7, 2007


The USF men's tennis team lost a 4-3 heartbreaker at Sacramento State on Saturday, narrowing losing the doubles point and then taking three of the six singles matches.

In doubles play, the teams split the first two matches with Falko Huettenberger and Asaf Cohen winning 8-2 at number three. USF lost the number one doubles, and Torin Ching and Rainer Nachbauer lost 9-8 (9) at the third slot. This would eventually determine the match winner.

Matthew Berry won for the 23rd time in 29 matches with a 7-6, 6-3 decision over Xavier Barajas-Smith. Asaf Cohen took straight sets at number four and Rainer Nachbauer won at number five, winning in the third.

But USF failed to win the fourth point as the host Hornets took the two, three and six singles, finally clinching when Gabriel Loredo defeated Huettenberger at three singles.

USF hosts Saint Mary's Monday at the Olympic Club.


Match played at the Rio Del Oro Racquet Club in Sacramento.
#73 Sacramento State 4, San Francisco 3
DOUBLES
1. Stryhas/Loredo (SAC) def. Berry/Tu (USF), 8-4
2. Barajas-Smith/Van Dillen (SAC) def. Torin Ching/Nachbauer (USF), 9-8 (9)
3. Huettenberger/Cohen (USF) def. Foy/Lantin (SAC), 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2

SINGLES
1. Matthew Berry (USF) def. Xavier Barajas-Smith (SAC), 7-6 (5), 6-3
2. Anton Stryhas (SAC) def. Thong Tu (USF), 6-4, 7-5
3. Gabriel Loredo (SAC) def. Falko Huettenberger (USF), 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
4. Asaf Cohen (USF) def. Warwick Foy (SAC), 6-4, 7-6 (6)
5. Rainer Nachbauer (USF) def. Hague Van Dillen (SAC), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Tim Lantin (SAC) def. Mitch Del Rosario (USF), 7-5, 6-2
Order of Finish: 6, 1, 2, 4, 5, 3

Friday, April 6, 2007

Dons are Denied Down in Santa Clara

The Men's tennis team put up a great fight again this afternoon and came up short with a 6-1 loss to #67 Santa Clara with 4 of the 6 matches going 3 sets. Unfortunately as my former teammate once said to his opponent "Close doesn't count man" the Dons will have to regroup and finish strong similar to last year during Conference time. The Dons recognize they have another important match with WCC Opponent St.Mary's on Monday the 9th at the Olympic Club. The Dons will see Santa Clara one more time and as the saying goes that the third time is the charm. No doubt in my mind we will be back to face them and this time will matter the most. History sometimes repeats itself. Stay tuned.

No. 67 Santa Clara def. San Francisco 6-1
Doubles: (Order of finish 2, 1, 3)
1. SCU Jan Macek/Kevin McQuaid def. USF Matthew Berry/Thong Tu 8-6
2. SCU Steven Benvenuto/Blane Shields def. USF Torin Ching/Rainer Nachbauer 8-5
3. SCU Brian Brogan/Jay Wong def. USF Asaf Cohen/Falko Huettenberger 8-5


Singles: (Order of finish 2, 4, 5, 3, 1, 6)
1. USF Matthew Berry def. SCU Brian Brogan , 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (6)
2. SCU Jan Macek def USF Falko Huettenberger 6-1, 6-4
3. SCU Jay Wong def. USF Thong Tu 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
4. SCU Blane Shields def. USF Asaf Cohen 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
5. SCU Tommy Hicks def. USF Rainer Nachbauer 6-2, 7-5
6. SCU Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong def. USF Mitch Del Rosario 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5)

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Buck Em Broncos






The University of San Francisco Men's Tennis Team had a solid practice on Wednesday afternoon and are primed to take what is rightfully theirs. Everyone knows what must be done and nows its a matter of just executing. We are the better team and are going to peak at the right time. So roll out the balls and let's getting this party started. It's not how you start but how you finish. Go Dons!!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

The Dons Come Away with a Split on Road Trip to Boise


The University of San Francisco Men's Tennis team split on their road trip last week in Boise,Idaho with wins over NAIA school Lewis and Clark College and #67 University of Central Florida. Tough losses to Ball State and WCC opponent University of Portland also occured as the Dons finished 7th in a field of 16. Next up for the Dons are the Santa Clars Broncos on April 5th, 2007 at the Degheri Tennis Center on the campus of SCU. Match time is 2:30p.m.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Boise State or Bust!!!!



The University of San Francisco Men's Tennis team is off to Boise State tomorrow afternoon to compete in the Boise State Red Lion Spring Break Tournament. The Dons will play three straight dual matches starting on Thursday afternoon against Lewis and Clark followed by Ball State or Montana on Friday and one more match on Saturday that has yet to be announced. The Dons will return back to the Bay Area with two WCC matches against Santa Clara University on April 5th at Santa Clara and St.Mary's of Moraga on Easter Sunday at the Olympic Club at 4p.m.



The No. 19 ranked Boise State University men’s tennis team will host the 16-team, double elimination, dual match style, Boise State Red Lion Spring Break Invitational Tournament, Mar. 28-31. The matches will be held at a variety of sites through Boise, Idaho, including the Appleton Tennis Center, Crane Creek, and the Boise Racquet and Swim Club.