Tennis Ousted on Day One in Mobile
MOBILE, Ala. – Asbury tennis dropped their first match at the 2012 NAIA National Championships at the Mobile Tennis Center. The Eagles, seeded 21st in the 24-team field, lost to 12th seeded Concordia (Calif.) 9-0.
Asbury (14-7) made their first trip to the tournament while Concordia was making their fifth since the tournament moved from a flighted event to a team format for the 2000 championship.
The Eagles failed to win a set in the match as Concordia (9-12) flexed their muscle. Concordia plays in the tough Golden States Athletic Conference, a conference that sent six teams to the tournament.
Nathan Schely put up the best fight of the day at No. 1, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Bruno Santarelli. Schley, a freshman, finished the year with a 15-4 record at the top position for the Eagles and was named KIAC Player of the Year. Schley’s doubles partner and fellow freshman Scott Layton lost at No. 2 6-2, 6-0 to Rafael Coutinho and finishes the season at 15-6. Layton was the only member of the team to play singles in all 21 matches this year.
In doubles Schley and Layton were dropped 8-1, their worst defeat of the season. They end the year at 15-3 as a team. At No. 2 doubles Braun Applegate and Stephen Woods lost 8-3, the duo were playing only their third match together. Justin Westlund and Daniel Harris lost at No. 3 doubles 8-2.
The Eagles are losing only one player, Braun Applegate, from this year’s team as they played the season with seven freshmen. Asbury set a school record with 14 wins and claimed their first KIAC Title since 1998.
