ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Western Michigan men's tennis team won its third Mid-American Conference Tournament championship in a row and sixth overall with a 4-0 victory over Ball State at the Clock Tower Racquet Club in Rockford, Ill.
The Broncos (20-7) now advance to the 2008 NCAA Tournament on their 20th win of the season. This is the second 20-win season in the last two years and only the eighth in school history.
"We played well. That was special to see, because I thought we didn't play our best tennis yesterday," head coach Dave Morin said. "Today, we did a great job of playing our games, not playing to protect and being aggressive in our game plans.
"I think what really makes this special is this team had so many new guys in the program or moving up in the lineup and guys kept stepping up and responding to the challenges presented to them. It wasn't easy, but it is super-exciting and we are looking forward to the NCAAs and trying to advance."
WMU started out by winning the doubles point as freshmen Michael Calderone and Kazuya Komada put away Shaun Bussert and Joe Vallee 8-4 at No. 3 and then the No. 1 team of seniors Bryan Norville and Alex Birchmeier won 8-6 over Jose Perdomo and Jorge Rodriguez.
The Broncos jumped all over the Cardinals (12-13) in singles as junior Kevin Hayward dropped the double bagel (6-0, 6-0) on Perdomo at the No. 1 singles position.
Calderone followed by breezing past BSU senior Danny Vidal 6-1, 6-3 in Vidal's final collegiate match.
WMU rounded out the victory as the hero of Friday's semifinal, senior Alejandro Staub, dropped only one game in a 6-1, 6-0 victory over the 2007 MAC Newcomer of the Year, Bret Berryman, at No. 3 singles.
The Broncos will find out their opponent and destination in the 2008 NCAA Tournament on Tuesday, April 29 at 2 p.m. on the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on ESPNEWS.
Tennis Match Results
Ball State vs Western Michigan
Apr 26, 2008 at Rockford, Illinois
Clock Tower Racquet Club
Western Michigan 4, Ball State 0
Singles competition
1. Kevin Hayward (WMU) def. Jose Perdomo (BSU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Alex Birchmeier (WMU) led Eduardo Pavia (BSU) 6-3, 0-1, unfinished
3. Alejandro Staub (WMU) def. Bret Berryman (BSU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Kazuya Komada (WMU) led Jorge Rodriguez (BSU) 6-4, 2-1, unfinished
5. Bryan Norville (WMU) trailed Shaun Bussert (BSU) 3-6, 1-5, unfinished
6. Michael Calderone (WMU) def. Danny Vidal (BSU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Bryan Norville/Alex Birchmeier (WMU) def. Jose Perdomo/Jorge Rodriguez (BSU) 8-6
2. Casey Cullen/Kevin Hayward (WMU) trailed Bret Berryman/Eduardo Pavia (BSU) 4-5, unfinished
3. Michael Calderone/Kazuya Komada (WMU) def. Shaun Bussert/Joe Vallee (BSU) 8-4
Match Notes:
Ball State 12-13
Western Michigan 20-7
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,6,3)
Mid-American Conference Men's Tennis Tournament Finals
Western Michigan wins third consecutive MAC title and advances to the NCAA Tournament.
