Men's Tennis Wears GAC Tournament Crown

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist battled from behind and won its first Great American Conference Tournament championship Saturday with a 5-3 win over Ouachita Baptist.
 
The Bison trailed 2-1 heading into singles with only Thomas Ackerknecht and Luis Romero scoring a victory at No. 2 doubles.
 
"It was an incredible match," said OBU Coach Peter McCorkle. "Ouachita was a completely different team this time around. They have an indoor court and they played fast well. Our guys just stepped it up. We were down after doubles so it was a little more challenging, but just like all season long they never, never gave up."

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Kevin Andrusch scored a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles to tie the team score at 2-2.
 
"Kevin is going to wind up being one of the best players OBU has ever had," McCorkle said. "He's playing great tennis and he's only a freshman."
 
Ackerknecht gave OBU the 3-2 lead with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles.
 
"Tommy just continues to play great tennis," McCorkle said.
 
Romero put the Bison on the cusp of a championship with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3.
 
"That was a big win and it was unexpected," McCorkle said. "Luis is just so hurt right now and we didn't know if he was going to be able to go out there."
 
After a win by Ouachita to make it 4-3, the Bison got the clincher from Gianluca Galdi at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 6-3.
 
"Gianluca has been in that situation a lot and he's just been so clutch," McCorkle said.
 
After winning the regular season crown one season after going winless in the GAC, OBU hauled off much of the hardware from the Tennis Banquet Thursday night. That painted a target on the backs of the Bison, McCorkle said.
 
"I think both Harding and Ouachita played better in the tournament than in the regular season," McCorkle said. "They played harder, but our guys stood up to the challenge."
 
The Bison take an 18-5 record into Senior Day Tuesday against Seminole State. OBU will honor seniors Ackerknecht, Patrick Sims and Michael Vetter, along with women's seniors Olivia Charvat, Alex Morales and Kathryn Sild at 12:45 p.m. and start play at 1 p.m.
 
Oklahoma Baptist 5, Ouachita Baptist 3
Singles competition
1. Kevin Andrusch (OKBU) def. Lennart Lonnemann (OUA) 6-1, 6-1
2. Lucas Castelo Branco (OKBU) vs. Luis Chab (OUA) unfinished
3. Luis Romero (OKBU) def. Juan Moncada (OUA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Dan Kaplun (OUA) def. Matias Le Fort (OKBU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Gianluca Galdi (OKBU) def. Nair Adi (OUA) 6-4, 6-3
6. Thomas Ackerknecht (OKBU) def. Andre Stefano (OUA) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Luis Chab/Juan Moncada (OUA) def. Kevin Andrusch/Gianluca Galdi (OKBU) 8-6
2. Thomas Ackerknecht/Luis Romero (OKBU) def. Lennart Lonnemann/Dan Kaplun (OUA) 8-5
3. Andre Stefano/Braydon Montgomery (OUA) def. Lucas Castelo Branco/Matias Le Fort (OKBU) 8-4