SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The No. 24 ranked Lees-McRae College Bobcats
men's tennis team season ended Friday in the second round of the
NCAA Tournament at the hands of No. 2 ranked and two-time defending
national champions Armstrong Atlantic State, 5-0, at Bacon
Park.
The Pirates (28-1) advance to Saturday's region final where they
will take on the winner of Flagler and Francis Marion. Lees-McRae
ends its season at 16-6 after advancing to the second round. It is
the second season the Bobcats have been ousted in the second round
of the NCAA Tournament.
The Pirates opened up a 3-0 lead after doubles. AASU picked up
two quick doubles points as No. 3-ranked Mikk Irdoja and Rafael
Array bested No. 29 Steve Karendal and Travis VanHoy, 8-1, at No. 1
doubles, while Eudaldo Bonet and Paul Fitzgerald beat Shaun Sumner
and Marko Zivkovic, 8-1, at No. 3 doubles. Lees-McRae was close to
a point at No. 2 doubles as Alex Hayes and Nandor Solymosi led
AASU's Matus Mydla and Daniel Regan, 6-3, but the Pirate duo
rallied back to earn the win, 9-8, after claiming a 7-3
tiebreaker.
In singles, AASU notched two quick straight-set wins to clinch
the match. No. 6-ranked Bonet beat Sumner, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2
singles, then Regan dispatched Karendal, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 5
singles.
The winner of Saturday's region final advances to the NCAA
Division II Men's Tennis Championships Round of 16 in Altamonte
Springs, Fla, on May 12-15.
Singles competition
1. #1 Mikk Irdoja (AASU) vs. #17 Nandor Solymosi (LMC) 6-3,
unfinished
2. #6 Eudaldo Bonet (AASU) def. Shaun Sumner (LMC) 6-1, 6-0
3. #11 Rafael Array (AASU) vs. Travis VanHoy (LMC) 6-0, 3-0,
unfinished
4. #38 Matus Mydla (AASU) vs. Marko Zivkovic (LMC) 6-3,
unfinished
5. Daniel Regan (AASU) def. Steve Karendal (LMC) 6-2, 6-0
6. Paul Fitzgerald (AASU) vs. Alex Hayes (LMC) 6-1, 3-2,
unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #3 Rafael Array/Mikk Irdoja (AASU) def. #29 Steve
Karendal/Travis VanHoy (LMC) 8-1
2. Matus Mydla/Daniel Regan (AASU) def. Alex Hayes/Nandor
Solymosi (LMC) 9-8 (7-3)
3. Eudaldo Bonet/Paul Fitzgerald (AASU) def. Shaun Sumner/Marko
Zivkovic (LMC) 8-1
Match Notes
Lees-McRae 16-5; National ranking #24
Armstrong Atlantic State 27-1; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,5)
2010 NCAA Southeast Regional - Second Round
