Monday, April 30, 2012

Men's tennis captures fifth straight America East crown

FLUSHING, N.Y.—Binghamton men’s tennis extended one of the longest current streaks in any sport in the America East with a 4-1 win over UMBC in the championship match Sunday afternoon at the USTA National Tennis Center. The title was BU’s fifth consecutive conference crown and advances the Bearcats to the NCAA tournament for the eighth time in the last 10 years.
 
Senior No. 1 Alexandre Haggai won both his matches and was selected as the Most Outstanding Player. Haggai paired with freshman Ismael Dinia for an 8-0 win at No. 2 doubles and then he gave BU its first singles point with a dominating 6-1, 6-0 win at the top spot. Juniors Ruben Devos and Bastian Bornkessel gutted out a 9-8 (7-4) win at No. 1 doubles to give BU the critical doubles point and momentum.
 
The pair trailed 8-7 before Bornkessel held his serve at love to force the tiebreak. Then serving at 5-4 in the breaker, Devos induced a UMBC net shot and won the tiebreak, the match and gave the Bearcats the doubles point when he hit a crisp backhand volley down the line for the winning shot.
 
 After Haggai boosted BU’s lead to 2-0, freshman Florian van Kann made quick work of his opponent at No. 6 singles, 6-2, 6-0, to give Binghamton a 3-0 lead. After the Retrievers earned a point with a win at No. 4, Dinia clinched the title with a 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 3. Dinia beat sophomore teammate Ruben Haggai to the punch as Haggai was trying to close out his match at the same time. Haggai led 6-3, 5-2 when his match was halted.
 
Binghamton (15-11) will now await its NCAA Regional site and opponent. The 64-team national tournament will be unveiled at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on ncaa.com and the team will gather in the Events Center TAU Room to watch the selection show.
 
Binghamton 4, UMBC 1 DOUBLES Devos/Bornkessel (BING) def. Hodel/Amorim (UMBC), 9-8 (7-4) A. Haggai/Dinia (BING) def. Aranzazu/Gray (UMBC), 8-0 Adewumi/Patel (UMBC) def. Lesage/R. Haggai (BING), 8-5 SINGLES A. Haggai (BING) def. Hodel (UMBC), 6-1, 6-0 Adewumi (UMBC) led Devos (BING), 7-5, 4-1 DNF Dinia (BING) def. Aranzazu (UMBC), 6-0, 6-4 Borret (UMBC) def. Lesage (BING), 6-3, 6-0 R. Haggai (BING) led Gray (UMBC), 6-3, 5-2 DNF Van Kann (BING) def. Patel (UMBC), 6-2, 6-0
 
Press release & photo provided by Binghamton University Athletics
 
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