Men's Singles Bracket (PDF) |
Men's Singles Consolation Bracket (PDF) |
Men's Doubles Bracket (PDF) |
Men's Doubles Consolation Bracket (PDF)
BEAVERTON, Ore. – There were challengers and hard contested matches in the semifinals and finals Monday, but in the end it was still Whitman completing the sweep of the singles and doubles titles as the 2012 USTA/ITA Men's Northwest Small College Tennis Championships concluded at the Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation Tennis Center.
Colton Malesovas, the No. 13 in the tournament, completed his impressive run in the tournament by capturing the singles title as he beat No. 2 seed Josh Wong in Willamette in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Malesovas advanced to the finals by knocking off Pacific's
Giancarlo Battaglia (So., Sherman Oaks, Calif.) in a hard fought three-set semifinals match, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0.
The day before, Malesovas beat No. 1 seed and Whitman teammate Andrew La Cava in straight sets. La Cava entered the tournament as the two-time defending champion.
Pacific head coach
Brian Jackson said that the battle in the final was an entertaining battle between two talented players. “Wong was up in the first set, only to see his lead evaporate,” he said. “In the second set, Wong had what everyone thought was another commanding lead at 4-1, only to have it taken away as well. Malesovas truly earned his title.”
In the doubles, La Cava teamed with James Rivers to best teammates Andy Riggs and Matt Tesmond in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2. La Cava and Rivers entered the tournament as the No. 2 seeds, while Riggs and Tesmond were the No. 3 seeds.
The Missionaries will also claim the championship in the singles consolation bracket. Alexander Noyes and Noah played their way into the final, but left early to avoid additional missed class time. The two players will compete against each other on the Walla Walla, Wash., campus at a later date.
The Pacific doubles tandem of Lorne Bulling and Brian Kyaw kept it from becoming a complete Whitman sweep. The freshmen earned the win over the Missionaries' Noyes and Will Huskey by default when the tandem also went home to avoid additional missed class time.
Jackson was impressed with Battaglia's performance in the tournament, especially considering that he was the only player to take a set off of the eventual winner. “He had one of the toughest draws and he had to work extremely hard for every match,” Jackson said. “He showed all of us that he is one of the top players in this league and the future is bright for the rest of his career.”
With the victories in the main draws, Malesovas, La Cava and Rivers have earned the right to compete in the USTA/ITA National Small College Championship, which takes place Oct. 11-14 in Mobile, Ala.
