The Gustavus men’s tennis team saw its hopes of a national championship dashed with a 4-2 loss to Middlebury College in the NCAA Division III Team Championship being held in Santa Cruz, California. The Gusties will now play the loser of the other semifinal between California-Santa Cruz and Emory on Friday at 9:00 am (PST).
The Gusties jumped out to a 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point and then extended their lead to 2-0 when Brett Morse-Karzen defeated Alex Scott 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 at the #6 position. However, Middlebury controlled the rest of the singles matches winning four straight and advancing to its second consecutive national championship match with a 4-2 win. The #1 singles match between the Gusties’ Ben Lundell and the Panthers’ Brian Waldron was stopped with Waldron leading 6-1, 6-7 (1), 4-1.
Middlebury, the defending national champions, improve to 16-2 overall, while the Gusties fall to 27-5.
Middlebury defeats Gustavus Adolphus 4-2
Doubles:
1) Adam Morgan/ Brett Morse-Karzen (GA) lead Justin Ingoglia/ George Mayer (Midd) 8-5
2) Ben Lundell/ Jesse Brauer (GA) def. Ari Beilin/ Alex Scott (Midd) 8-3
3) Andy Bryan/ Roy Bryan (GA) lead Nate Edmunds/ Brian Waldron (Midd) 7-5 unfinished
Singles:
1) Brian Waldrom (Midd) leads Ben Lundell (GA) 6-1, 6-7(1), 4-1 unfinished
2) Ari Beilin (Midd) def. Adam Morgan (GA) 6-3, 6-2
3) Nate Edmunds (Midd) def. Jesse Brauer (GA) 6-4, 6-3
4) George Mayer (Midd) def. Andy Bryan (GA) 7-5, 6-1
5) Salih Unsal (Midd) def. Roy Bryan (GA) 6-4, 6-0
6) Brett Morse-Karzen (GA) def. Alex Scott (Midd) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3