ndianapolis, IN – The GLVC Championship match came down to a tie-breaker at number three singles and finished with Northern Kentucky University defeating the University of Southern Indiana, 5-4, Saturday morning at North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. USI falls to 14- 7 overall in 2003-04.
The Screaming Eagles took the early 2-1 lead in doubles, winning at number two – freshman
Joe Epkey (Greenwood, Indiana) and junior
Kyle Taylor (Veedersburg, Indiana) – and at number three – senior
Weston Phillips (Henderson, Indiana) and junior
Evan Luttrell (Logansport, Indiana).
Phillips, playing in his first singles match of the GLVC Tournament, and Epkey won their singles matches, but that would be all the Eagles would win. NKU responded by winning at number three, four, five, and six.
The closest singles match was at number three between USI junior
Nim Shetty (India) and NKU junior Marek Pawelec. Pawlec won the first set, 6-2, but Shetty bounced back with a 6-1 win in the second set. The GLVC championship match came down to the deciding third set and tie-breaker, won by Pawelec, 7-6 (7-5).
The Eagles will now await word on whether they will receive a bid to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional. National tournament pairings will be announced the week of April 26 for the regional that will be held May 7-9.
GLVC Men's Tennis Tournament
At Indianapolis, Indiana
Championship Match
Northern Kentucky 5, Southern Indiana 4
Doubles
1. Amine Benjelloun-Billy Hopkins (NK) d.
Ryan Hughes-Nim Shetty (USI), 8-4
2.
Joe Epkey-Kyle Taylor (USI) d. Nick Herzog-Oliver Marinkovic (NK), 8-1
3.
Evan Luttrell-Weston Phillips (USI) d. Marek Pawelec-Ted Walkup (NK), 8-2
Singles
1.
Joe Epkey (USI) d. Amine Benjelloun (NK), 6-1, 6-4
2.
Weston Phillips (USI) d. Oliver Marinkovic (NK), 7-6, 6-3
3. Marek Pawelec (NK) d.
Nim Shetty (USI), 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (5)
4. Nick Herzog (NK) d.
Ryan Hughes (USI), 7-6 (3), 6-4
5. Billy Hopkins (NK) d.
Evan Luttrell (USI), 6-2, 6-1
6. Ted Walkup (NK) d.
Kyle Taylor (USI), 6-1, 7-5
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
