Posted on: Monday, May 14, 2001

HPU men's tennis team loses in national final, 5-0

Advertiser Staff

Less than 24 hours after its dramatic come-from-behind upset of No. 1 Drury, the Hawai'i Pacific men's tennis team was blitzed by Rollins College, 5-0, yesterday in the final of the NCAA Division II National Championships in Pensacola, Fla.

For the second year in a row, the Sea Warriors (17-3) fell one match short of becoming the first collegiate men's tennis team from Hawai'i to win a national championship. HPU lost to Landers in last year's final.

"It's bittersweet," said HPU head coach Henry Somerville. "With all the adversity we had this year, I'm really happy that we made it this far. But when you get to the final game, everything is magnified. We knew we had a chance."

Rollins dominated from the opening serve, taking a 3-0 advantage after doubles play. It was the first time in two years the Sea Warriors were swept in doubles.

Rollins clinched the win when Brandon Smith beat Gerary Dericks, 6-1, 6-3, in a matchup of No. 4s, and Matt Porter upset Mikael Maatta, the top-ranked men's singles player in Division II, 6-2, 6-4.

"(Rollins) really deserved it," Somerville said. "They had been up and down during the year, but they came out and played a great match. Their coach said it was the best match they played all year."