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Men's
Tennis Team Returns to Nationals
6/07
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The men's tennis
team had much to celebrate this season. Representing Mercer at the
national tournament yet again was a great experience for one and
all. And as the last squad for retiring Head Coach Stan Dlugosz,
they will have a special place in the Mercer record books.
The Vikings
completed the regular season 7-3, and then finished second in the
Region 19 tournament behind Gloucester CC with wins at fourth singles,
first doubles, and third doubles. The National Junior College Athletic
Association (NJCAA) tournament was played in Plano, TX, May 13-18.
The Mercer roster included returning All-American sophomore Kyle
Devlin (no. 1), John Hand (no. 2), Justin Wagner (no. 3), O'John
Dalgic (no. 4), Bryan Weber (no. 5), and Juan Chavez (no. 6). Andrew
Holsman, originally listed at no. 3, missed much of the season due
to a back injury, but was able to play in the post-season.
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Men's
tennis team: (standing from left) Head Coach Stan Dlugosz, Alexander
Litvinov, Andrew Holsman, Bryan Weber, Jonathan Hand, and Coach
Marc Vecchiolla; (kneeling from left) Justin Wagner, O'John Dalgic,
Kyle Devlin, and Juan Chavez.
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While
Dlugosz reports that "this year's team was terrific," stiff
competition at the national tournament proved too much for the Vikings,
who finished eighth out of 11 teams. Devlin, a three-seed, played a fierce
contest, losing in three sets over three hours in the quarterfinal round.
Devlin and Hand at no. 1 doubles were defeated in the semifinal round.
With
every player expected to return to the roster except sophomores Devlin
and Chavez, Dlugosz will leave the team in a good position next year.
Dalgic was Dlugosz' most unexpected find. A ranked badminton player in
his native Turkey, he picked up the game of tennis with ease, moving from
no. 8 to no. 4 in the course of the season.
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