ACU’s men and women’s tennis team nearly swept the ITA South Central Regional Championships hosted by Southwest Baptist University this weekend. Capturing three out of four championship titles, both teams continue to see success.
Julia Mongin and Hans Hach arrived in Springfield, Missouri determined to defend their regional singles champion status. Not only were both of these singles titles maintained, but ACU also claimed the women’s doubles championship for a second year in row. the Tennis teams have claimed all four titles twice during the 16 years under head coach Hutton Jones; once in 1998 and last year in 2010.
After defeating teammate Brittney Reed 6-0, 6-0, Mongin advanced to the finals where she faced yet another teammate, Micah Hermsdorf. Hermsdorf was set to play Mongin after beating out Monica Pieratt of Arkansas-Fort Smith 6-3, 6-0.
In a Wildcat battle for the championship, Julia Mongin proved she was just as dynamic of a player as she was in the 2010 tournament. After beating Hermsdorf 7-6 in the first set, Mongin fell 4-6 but didn’t let that stop her from pressing on. The junior from France came back in the final set 6-3, winning the entire regional tournament.
“It was really great to be able to win this tournament two years in a row,” said Mongin. “I was ready and confident to play, and after a couple hard matches I was happy to earn it.”
Also in the women’s division, Hermsdorf and her partner Hannah Kelley were able to clench the doubles championship, making this ACU’s second consecutive win in the past two years. The duo began the tournament unseeded, but easily won five matches, in the process upsetting the fourth-seeded Gennissen and Innes (Dallas Baptist) 7-5, 6-3 in the second round. They proceeded to knock sixth-seeded Pieratt and Whittemore (Arkansas-Fort Smith) out of semifinals 6-2, 7-6, and then beat third-seeded Perez and Fausett (Texas Southern) 6-4, 6-3 in order to win the regional title.
On the men’s side, Hach fought to win his second regional singles title. He beat Jorge Margiotta (Southern Baptist) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in the semifinals and came back against third-seeded Domingos Carissimo after his first set of 4-6 in the finals. He finished off Carissimo 6-4, 7-5 in the last two sets.
“Quarter and semifinals were really tough,” Hach said. “I would have three sets and then an hour and then I would have to play again. It was really long, but felt like I was prepared for it.”
In doubles Hach and his partner Nick Plum just barely gave up the championship title to Margiotta and Carissimo (Southern Baptist) in a 7-6, 6-2 match.
“It was really hard and really tough but the close matches are the ones that make you better. I feel great about how we played in those important matches,” said Hach.
Due to their regional victories, Mongin, Hermsdorf, Kelley, and Hach will all be representing ACU at ITA’s Small College Championships in Mobile, Ala. Oct. 12-15.
