Men's Tennis
5/8/2008 - Royals Win Men’s Tennis National Championship
Marion, IN- The Hope International Men’s Tennis Team won the 2008 NCCAA National Tournament with a 5-2 win over Dallas Baptist on Thursday morning. Four Royals were named NCCAA All-Americans- Rajko Mladenovic and Marko Kustudija in singles along with Felix Haufe and Johan Weich for their doubles play. Coach Nelson Cook was also named the NCCAA Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year.
The Royals, making their first trip to the National Tennis Tournament, drew Dallas Baptist, Indiana Wesleyan, and Spring Arbor in pool play. On Tuesday morning (at 6:00 am PST), the Royals opened with Dallas Baptist and beat them 5-1 (tournament matches are played as first to 5 points wins). They finished up play on Tuesday by defeating Indiana Wesleyan 5-1.
On Wednesday, they defeated Spring Arbor 5-3 to finish pool play 3-0 and qualify for the Semi-Finals. Awaiting them in the Semi-Finals was six time defending NCCAA Champion North Greenville from South Carolina. The Royals knocked off the Crusaders 5-2.
In the other Semi-Final, Dallas Baptist defeated Olivet Nazarene 5-1. That set up a second meeting at the tournament and third of the year between the Royals and Patriots for all the marbles on Thursday.
In the Finals, the first for both teams, the Royals battled through a few injuries but prevailed 5-2.
The 2008 NCCAA Men’s Tennis National Champions finished their year with a program high of 16 wins.