2008 Woodie Awards
Tennis 'Cats win, lose in NCAA tourney
Kacamakis named ITA Division II Rookie of the Year
Issue date: 5/11/07 Section: Sports
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Oh so close! The Southwest Baptist men's tennis team came within a single point of advancing to the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Division II Tennis Championships.
Looking for their fourth Sweet 16 appearance in five years, the nationally-ranked Bearcats (33rd in the latest International Tennis Association Top 40 Division II Poll) fell 5-4 to MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State in the championship meet of the North Central Regional Tournament, the first stage of the Division II tennis championships.
In the North Central semifinals, played May 3 in Maryville, SBU, the North Central's number three seed, took on Truman State, another MIAA foe, for the third time in two weeks.
After dropping two of their three doubles matches, the 'Cats clawed their way back in singles, sweeping the top four matches. Nationally-ranked freshman Alex Kacamakis (21st) knocked off Truman's Ryan Cope 6-3, 6-3 in the number one singles flight. Sophomores Emilo El Alabi (6-2, 6-2) and Agustin Mollar (6-3, 6-1) were both victorious in their respective number two and three singles matches with junior Daniel Prerad pulling out a 7-6, 6-3 decision at number four singles to give the 'Cats their third consecutive 5-2 win over Truman this season.
Facing nationally-ranked Northwest (32nd) in the North Central Championship, the 'Cats came up on the short end of a 5-4 score. In the number one doubles match, Prerad and El Alabi fell 6-8 with Kacamakis and Mollar (8-4) emerging victorious at number two doubles. In the number three flight, sophomore Alan Mohadeb and freshman Micah AuBuchon fell 4-8 as Northwest took a 2-1 lead.
In singles, Kacamakis (6-3, 6-3), Mollar (6-3, 7-5) and Prerad (6-3, 7-6) were all victorious, but losses by El Alabi (3-6, 4-6) and AuBuchon (2-6, 0-6) left the meet score tied 4-4.
In what proved to be the decisive match of the meet, NWMSU junior Lucas Ariboni defeated Mohadeb in a three-set thriller, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 to give Northwest a 5-4 win and a berth in the Sweet 16.
With the loss, the 'Cats finished their season with an overall record of 11-11.
In regard to individual honors, the 'Cats learned that Kacamakis had been named the International Tennis Association's 2007 National Rookie of the Year for Division II Tennis. Kacamakis received the award May 8 in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
According to SBU Head Tennis Coach John Bryant, Kacamakis is the first SBU player to win the award.
"It's nice to know Alex has been recognized on a national scale," said Bryant. "As a freshman, he'll have plenty of opportunities to grow in the future."
Kacamakis is currently the highest ranked freshman in the Division II national singles rankings. During the 2007 season, he posted a 19-10 record in singles and a 13-10 record in doubles.
Looking for their fourth Sweet 16 appearance in five years, the nationally-ranked Bearcats (33rd in the latest International Tennis Association Top 40 Division II Poll) fell 5-4 to MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State in the championship meet of the North Central Regional Tournament, the first stage of the Division II tennis championships.
In the North Central semifinals, played May 3 in Maryville, SBU, the North Central's number three seed, took on Truman State, another MIAA foe, for the third time in two weeks.
After dropping two of their three doubles matches, the 'Cats clawed their way back in singles, sweeping the top four matches. Nationally-ranked freshman Alex Kacamakis (21st) knocked off Truman's Ryan Cope 6-3, 6-3 in the number one singles flight. Sophomores Emilo El Alabi (6-2, 6-2) and Agustin Mollar (6-3, 6-1) were both victorious in their respective number two and three singles matches with junior Daniel Prerad pulling out a 7-6, 6-3 decision at number four singles to give the 'Cats their third consecutive 5-2 win over Truman this season.
Facing nationally-ranked Northwest (32nd) in the North Central Championship, the 'Cats came up on the short end of a 5-4 score. In the number one doubles match, Prerad and El Alabi fell 6-8 with Kacamakis and Mollar (8-4) emerging victorious at number two doubles. In the number three flight, sophomore Alan Mohadeb and freshman Micah AuBuchon fell 4-8 as Northwest took a 2-1 lead.
In singles, Kacamakis (6-3, 6-3), Mollar (6-3, 7-5) and Prerad (6-3, 7-6) were all victorious, but losses by El Alabi (3-6, 4-6) and AuBuchon (2-6, 0-6) left the meet score tied 4-4.
In what proved to be the decisive match of the meet, NWMSU junior Lucas Ariboni defeated Mohadeb in a three-set thriller, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 to give Northwest a 5-4 win and a berth in the Sweet 16.
With the loss, the 'Cats finished their season with an overall record of 11-11.
In regard to individual honors, the 'Cats learned that Kacamakis had been named the International Tennis Association's 2007 National Rookie of the Year for Division II Tennis. Kacamakis received the award May 8 in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
According to SBU Head Tennis Coach John Bryant, Kacamakis is the first SBU player to win the award.
"It's nice to know Alex has been recognized on a national scale," said Bryant. "As a freshman, he'll have plenty of opportunities to grow in the future."
Kacamakis is currently the highest ranked freshman in the Division II national singles rankings. During the 2007 season, he posted a 19-10 record in singles and a 13-10 record in doubles.
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