Troy University Athletics
Trojans Claim Sun Belt Championship
4/25/2010 9:00:00 PM | Tennis
NEW ORLEANS - It was just a one month ago that Troy University head coach Eric Hayes decided that enough was enough when it came to playing the top teams in the country.
It was at that moment that he decided that his guys, no matter what the cost, would be able to play with anybody at any time - no matter if they were back-to-back matches or a day apart. That decision came after the championship match against Denver in the Sun Belt Shootout, having to play two matches with just a 90-minute turnaround.
The new philosophy by Hayes and the tennis program paid dividends as on Sunday afternoon, the 61st-ranked Troy men's tennis team captured the Sun Belt Conference championship with a 4-1 victory over 34th-ranked Denver. The victory earned the Trojans the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and is the first tennis championships for the Trojans since joining the Sun Belt.
“It was something else,” Hayes said. “It was just a tremendous effort by the guys today. Denver is a very good team. We woke up this morning and the key was winning the doubles point. We were fresh coming off of last night's match and we were able to get that point. I am so proud of them.”
Troy (20-4) must now sit and wait until next week to find out their fate in the NCAA Tournament. There will be a
selection show aired that will show the 16, four-team regionals and where the Trojans will be playing.
“We just have to sit and wait,” Hayes said. “The Pac-10 and Big 10 play next week, but we pretty much took an at-large from someone since Denver will get in based on their national ranking. We will find out next Tuesday who we play and where we play.”
The day started off on the right foot for the Trojans as they captured the doubles point, but a point that was decided in a tiebreaker in the deciding match.
Troy jumped ahead early in the doubles competition with an 8-2 victory by all-conference duo Luis Henrique Grangeiro and Mario Rolemberg. But Denver came back to tie the competition with a victory at number three doubles when the team of Fabio Biasion and Enej Bonin of Denver (19-4) defeated Guilherme Sahadi and Anas Rouchdi 8-3.
The final match that decided the doubles point went to the Trojans after the two teams split the first 16 games of the match. The Trojans duo of Branko Weber and Xavier Masson were the first to break serve in the tiebreaker and were able to hold on for a 9-8 (7-5) victory.
“Doubles is the key,” Hayes said. “If you can win that one point then you only have to win three singles matches. Today it would have been tough to win four singles points against that team. The look in the eyes of our team, I thought we would be in a position to win it all day and we were able to pull it out.”
The Trojans needed just three singles victories to gain the overall victory and earn the trophy, but Denver had other ideas as they won the first singles match of the day to tie the overall match at 1-all.
Bonin defeated Branko Weber at number three singles 6-2, 6-3; but the elation of the Pioneers was short-lived as Troy stormed back to capture a victory at number five. Tournament most valuable player Mario Rolemberg got a measure of revenge from a match earlier this season, when he defeated Jens Vorkefeld 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 to put the Trojans ahead 2-1.
The match and momentum swung to the Trojans after that point as Luis Henrique Grangeiro put the Trojans ahead 3-1 with a 7-6 (7-0), 6-4 victory at number one. And before two of the other matches could conclude, the Trojans were able to jump into the air and celebrate when Xavier Masson clinched the match and the championship with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory at number four.
“The first thing that came to my mind when baseball dog piled on the mound after winning the championship,” Hayes said. “The guys were just all over the place jumping around. I am just so proud. So many people are involved in this. I told the guys to celebrate today and we have a legitimate shot at being a three seed and making some noise at the regionals.
“I told the team after we won it that I took this job eight years ago and people outside of the department thought we couldn't get it done. I don't do much when it comes time to play, I just focus them and they are the ones who hit the ball. They just did a great job.”
The Trojans will take a day or two off before they begin their preparations for the NCAA Tournament next week. Stay tuned to TroyTrojans.com for more information on the Trojans and the NCAA Tournament.
(61) Troy 4, (34) Denver 1
Sunday, April 25, 2010
New Orleans, LA (University Tennis Courts)
Sun Belt Conference Championship
Singles
1. Luis Henrique Grangeiro (TROY) def. Yannick Weihs (DEN) 7-6 (7-0), 6-4
2. David Simson (DEN) vs. Aurelien Tave (TROY) 6-2, 5-6, unfinished
3. Enej Bonin (DEN) def. Branko Weber (TROY) 6-2, 6-3
4. Xavier Masson (TROY) def. Fabio Biasion (DEN) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
5. Mario Rolemberg (TROY) def. Jens Vorkefeld (DEN) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
6. Andrew Landwerlen (DEN) vs. Guilherme Sahadi (TROY) 6-3, 2-6, 4-4, unfinished
Doubles
1. Mario Rolemberg/Luis Henrique Grangeiro (TROY) def. David Simson/Andrew Landwerlen (DEN) 8-2
2. Branko Weber/Xavier Masson (TROY) def. Jens Vorkefeld/Yannick Weihs (DEN) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Fabio Biasion/Enej Bonin (DEN) def. Guilherme Sahadi/Anas Rouchdi (TROY) 8-3
Match Notes
Troy University 20-4; National ranking #61
Denver 19-4; National ranking #34
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,5,1)
#1 Denver, #2 Troy
SBC Championship Match
Troy wins the SBC championship, earns league's automatic berth