LAWTON, Okla. – For the first time since 2008, the Cameron University men's tennis team is heading to nationals after defeating St. Edward's, 5-2 on Monday in Lawton.
NCAA Interactive Bracket
"It was close, but I believe in my team and this team's been pretty tough and scrappy all year," said head coach James Helvey. "Compared to some of the other teams I've had in the past, we're not blowing teams out 9-0, but we're winning a lot of matches because we've got a lot of heart."
"I've learned with this team that you never give up on them because they'll take it all the way to the end."
The match was Cameron's to lose after sweeping doubles 3-0 early. The pairing of Nicolai Ferrigno and Dean Weigelt in the two spot came back from a 6-4 deficit to win 9-8 (7-3).
Despite the lead, St. Edward's gave the Aggies a run for their money taking the first set in four singles matches. Angelo Lencioni would take the match to the brink winning 6-4, 6-1 over Alexandre Bueno with CU needing one more win to punch a ticket to Surprise, Ariz.
Fans would need to wait anxiously after CU fell in the three slot, then the four slot to keep the Hilltoppers alive. Duje Janjic, Joao Fazendeiro, and Ferrigno all had split sets on their courts.
The action was on court one with Ferrigno, who came back in the third set to push the match to a tiebreaker. Ferrigno and James Rogers battled trading point after point until they were tied at seven, where Ferrigno took the final two points and clinched the Aggies victory, 5-2.
"In the tiebreaker in singles in the third set, well, if I say that I wasn't nervous I would be lying, I mean everybody is," said Nicolai Ferrigno. "He gave me a couple of points, I gave him a couple, and we both missed shots we wouldn't miss usually. I got some cramps during the tiebreaker, but it ended up good."
"I don't really know what to say right now because when we started the season, mine and the team's goal was to go to nationals, but I can't really believe it right now, actually saying that we're going to nationals."
"This has been long time coming," Helvey said. We've lost two other regional finals between 2009 and present day and so it just felt real good to finally win one and get back, because it's hard. It's real hard to win a regional championship."
"Right now, we just want to focus on the first match, because with the final 16, you're talking 16 tough teams and you hope you get a good draw and you win that first one and get in the final eight. But right now my main goal is the first match."
Cameron's overall record moves to 22-3 and they will travel to the NCAA National Tournament in Surprise, Ariz. to play Lander University out of the Peach Belt Conference on May 8 at 9 a.m.
Singles competition
1. #20 Nicolai Ferrigno (CU) def. #50 James Rogers (SEUMT) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7)
2. Duje Janjic (CU) vs. Pedro Bronstrup (SEUMT) 2-6, 7-5, 4-1, unfinished
3. Maximo Agoglia (SEUMT) def. Dennis Merdan (CU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Felix Bake (SEUMT) def. Jorge Gerosi (CU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
5. Angelo Lencioni (CU) def. Alexandre Bueno (SEUMT) 6-4, 6-1
6. Joao Fazendeiro (CU) vs. Adrian Garza (SEUMT) 4-6, 7-5, 3-4, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Duje Janjic/Angelo Lencioni (CU) def. Felix Bake/Pedro Bronstrup (SEUMT) 8-2
2. Nicolai Ferrigno/Dean Weigelt (CU) def. James Rogers/Maximo Agoglia (SEUMT) 9-8 (7-3)
3. Dennis Merdan/Joao Fazendeiro (CU) def. Alexandre Bueno/Ivan Vaz (SEUMT) 8-2
