Wednesday, 02/25/2009

The Gusties have done it again! They defeated UC-Santa Cruz 5-4 for the second year in a row. Last year the victory earned the Gusties their fourth national indoor championship. This year the stakes were smaller, with only fifth place on the line, but the rivalry was just as keen. The two senior laden teams fought hard. Santa Cruz has two of the best doubles teams in the country. Historically their school has won more national doubles titles than anyone else. Nevertheless, Gustavus rose to the occasion, played their best tennis of the season, and swept all three doubles matches.

A large, boisterous home crowd in the Swanson Center roared their approval. #1 John Kauss played outstanding singles and continued the momentum with a convincing, one-sided victory. The team match score stood at 4-0. The Gusties needed one more match to win. All attention went to Mike Burdakin at #3 singles. He had won the first set, but things were tough in the second. It went to a tie-breaker and Mike went down 3-6. But he saved three set points and came back to win 8-6. The dual match was determined. Victory was assured by the 5-0 lead. Singles play continued, and Santa Cruz won all of the remaining singles matches, bringing the final score to 5-4.

Again Gustavus excelled at doubles, winning eight out of nine matches against three top ranked teams. No team at the national indoor tournament had a better doubles record. The Gusties won two out of their three team matches, the same as third place Claremont and runner-up Washington University. Emory emerged as team champion with a 6-3 victory, but Gustavus has reason to be proud. They beat UC-Santa Cruz, who is ranked #4 in the nation.

Now the Gusties have a 5-3 season record. They play two matches on Saturday, February 28 at the Owatonna Indoor Club against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Hamline University. Match times are both 12:30 p.m. as Gustavus splits its players between the two matches.

CLAREMONT-MUDD-SCRIPPS 6 GUSTAVUS 3 St. Peter, MN, February 20, 2009
Doubles
1. Mike Burdakin/John Kauss (GAC) def. Guillaume Schils/Lawrence Wang (CMS) 8-5
2. Michael Starr/Ronald Wu (CMS) def. Charlie Paukert/Ben Tomasek (GAC) 8-5
3. Kevin Stickney/Nick Hansen (GAC) def. Robbie Erani/Eric MacColl (CMS) 8-5

Singles
1. John Kauss (GAC) def. Lawrence Wang (CMS) 6-2, 6-3
2. Michael Starr (CMS) def. Charlie Paukert (GAC) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
3. Robbie Erani (CMS) def. Mike Burdakin (GAC) 6-3, 6-2
4. Russell Brockett (CMS) def. Kevin Stickney (GAC) 6-1, 6-3
5. Victor Chien (CMS) def. Ben Tomasek (GAC) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
6. Ronald Wu (CMS) def. Patrick Clark (GAC) 6-0, 6-4

GUSTAVUS 6 U. OF MARY WASHINGTON 3 St. Peter, MN, February 21, 2009
Doubles
1. Mike Burdakin/John Kauss (GAC) def. Randy Loden/Kaz Murata (UMW) 8-5
2. Charlie Paukert/Ben Tomasek (GAC) def. John James/Jason Dunn (UMW) 9-7
3. Kevin Stickney/Nick Hansen (GAC) def. Evan Goff/Bryce Parrish (UMW) 8-1

Singles
1. John Kauss (GAC) def. John James (UMW) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. Randy Loden (UMW) def. Charlie Paukert (GAC) 6-2, 6-4
3. Mike Burdakin (GAC) def. Jason Dunn (UMW) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
4. Riley Baver (UMW) def. Kevin Stickney (GAC) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
5. Ben Tomasek (GAC) def. Andrew Frisk (UMW) 6-4, 6-3
6. Bryce Parrish (UMW) def. Patrick Clark (GAC) 7-5, 6-2


GUSTAVUS 5 UC-SANTA CRUZ 4 St. Peter, MN, February 21, 2009
Doubles
1. Mike Burdakin/John Kauss (GAC) def. Max Liberty-Point/Ilya Gendelman (UCSC) 8-4
2. Charlie Paukert/Ben Tomasek (GAC) def. Jared Kamel/Marc Vartabedian (UCSC) 9-8 (4)
3. Kevin Stickney/Nick Hansen (GAC) def. Max Ortiz/Colin Mark-Griffin (UCSC) 8-5

Singles
1. John Kauss (GAC) def. Max Liberty-Point (UCSC) 6-3, 6-1
2. Jared Kamel (UCSC) def. Charlie Paukert (GAC) 6-4, 6-2
3. Mike Burdakin (GAC) def. Ilya Gendelman (UCSC) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Max Ortiz (UCSC) def. Kevin Stickney (GAC) 4-5, retired
5. Colin Mark-Griffin (UCSC) def. Ben Tomasek (GAC) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
6. Marc Vartabedian (UCSC) def. Patrick Clark (GAC) 6-2, 6-1