2012 MIAC Men's Tennis Playoff Champion Golden Gusties
The Gustavus men’s tennis team earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship by winning the 2012 MIAC Playoff Title with impressive wins over St. Thomas, 5-1 in the semifinals, and Carleton, 5-0 in the championship match on Saturday night in St. Peter, Minn. The Gusties defended last year’s playoff title, improving to 20-7, and achieved their fifth MIAC postseason championship since the tournament began in 2007.
The Gusties, who were the No. 1 seed in the playoff tournament, received a bye on the first day and opened play against St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon. The Tommies advanced to the semifinals with a 5-2 win over Macalester on Friday. Gustavus started the day with wins over St. Thomas at No. 1 and 3 doubles, both by scores of 8-3. The Tommies took No. 2 doubles with an 8-6 decision by Brendon O’Connell and Allen-Michael Muench. In singles play, Juan Luis Chu made quick work of O’Connell at the No. 3 spot, 6-1, 6-0. Mya Smith-Dennis followed suit with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 2 and Amrik Donkena sent the Gusties into the title match with a 6-2, 6-1 win at the top singles spot.
Carleton started its day with a pair of doubles victories. Peter Dunn and Paul Cooper edged Macalester’s Andy Catania and John Wright 9-8 at the No. 1 spot, while Austin Jiang and Andrew Hwang tallied an 8-2 win at the No. 3 position. McCoy Becker (No. 6) and Dunn (No. 1) gave the Knights a 4-1 lead, but St. Olaf didn’t go quietly. At the No. 2 spot, Wright battled back from a 6-1 first set loss to Avery Rux to claim the next two 7-6, 6-3, cutting the St. Olaf deficit to two. The match was then claimed at the No. 3 slot as Austin Jiang defeated Stephen Nolan 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.
In the championship match, Gustavus faced Carleton in the re-match of the 2011 championship, when the Gusties defeated the Knights and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Gusties started Saturday’s title match with a clean sweep in doubles. No. 1 and 2 were 8-4 decisions, while the No. 3 spot was claimed by Joey MacGibbon and Bradley Entwistle in a 9-8 tiebreaker.
In singles draw, the Gusties received two straight-set victories from Chu (No. 3) and MacGibbon (No. 5) to secure the title. Chu defeated Jiang 6-2, 6-1, while MacGibbon defeated Cooper 6-2, 6-0.
The Gusties will find out on Monday who and where they will play in the first round of the NCAA Regional Championships.
Singles Competition
1. Amrik Donkena (GAC) vs. Peter Dunn (CAR) 6-5, unfinished
2. Mya Smith-Dennis (GAC) vs. Avery Rux (CAR) 6-3, 1-0 unfinished
3. Juan Luis Chu (GAC) def. Austin Jiang (CAR) 6-2, 6-1
4. Tyler Johnson (GAC) vs. Andrew Hwang (CAR) 6-2, 1-4, unfinished
5. Joey MacGibbon (GAC) def. Paul Cooper (MAC) 6-2, 6-0
6. Bradley Entwistle (GAC) vs. McCoy Becker (CAR) 6-2, 2-1, unfinished
Doubles Competition
1. Amrik Donkena/Mya Smith-Dennis (GAC) def. Peter Dunn/Paul Cooper (CAR) 8-4
2. Juan Luis Chu/Daniel Pomeranc (GAC) def. Austin Jiang/Andrew Hwang (CAR) 8-4
3. Joey MacGibbon/Bradley Entwistle (GAC) def. Jon Aranda/Dan Vollman (CAR) 9-8