ST. PETER, Minn. – The No. 21-ranked Gustavus men’s tennis team swept the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 5-0 in a NCAA Regional Semifinal Saturday afternoon at the Swanson Tennis Center, advancing to the regional final.
The Black and Gold improve their overall record to 25-8 on the season with the win. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead with a doubles sweep, Mohanad Alhouni (Jr., Tripoli, Libya) and Chase Johnson (So., Golden Valley, Minn.) captured singles wins to decide the match.
“The guys handled the moment beautifully today,” said Head Coach Tommy Valentini. “Whitewater is a strong program and they competed very hard. We showed very good poise in the big moments in the doubles down the wire to earn the lead. We executed the game plans well in singles, and it was great for Mohanad and Chase to score wins for us to close it out.”
Gustavus 5, UW-Whitewater 0 (Box)
Singles
- Mohanad Alhouni (Jr., Tripoli, Libya) (GAC) def. Grant Thompson (UWW) 6-1, 6-1
- Zach Ekstein (Jr., Eagan, Minn.) (GAC) vs. Zane Navratil (UWW) 6-1, 3-4, unfinished
- Patrick Whaling (So., Mankiob Sabot, Va.) (GAC) vs. Jimmy Engelhart (UWW) 2-6, 4-2, unfinished
- Tommy Entwistle (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) vs. Rory Calabria (UWW) 5-6, unfinished
- Chase Johnson (So., Golden Valley, Minn.) (GAC) def. Matt Zurowski (UWW) 6-2, 6-3
- Yassine Derbani (Fy., Casablanca, Morocco) (GAC) vs. Zach Wood (UWW) 6-4, 0-3, unfinished
Doubles
- Alhouni/Whaling (GAC) def. Zane Navratil/Jimmy Engelhart (UWW) 8-5
- Entwistle/Johnson (GAC) def. Rory Calabria/Zach Wood (UWW-M) 8-6
- David Hagberg (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.)/Derbani def. Brandon Dechter/Matt Zurowski (UWW-M) 8-5
“We did well in controlling what we could today, and enjoyed the moment,” Valentini commented. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to play in tomorrow’s final and we look forward to embracing the challenges that come along with it.”
The Gusties will face the winner of Coe College and the University of Chicago tomorrow at noon.
go gusties
You make us proud!