Oct. 3, 2008
-Michael Stambaugh - Tennis Contact - 386.481.2278
-ATLANTA, Ga. --Bethune-Cookman Men's and Women's tennis teams competed in the 8th Annual HBCU National Tennis Championships, Sept. 25-28, in Atlanta, Ga. Both teams placed 4th of nine teams competing in the championships.
For the Men's team, sophomore Kristofer Martin advanced the furthest, beating Tankersley of Prairie View A & M, Atkinson of Florida A & M (6-1, 6-0), and Forest Jenkins of Florida A & M (2-6, 6-3, 6-0). He lost in Final to Flight C Singles winner, Paul Paige of Florida A & M in three sets (7-6, 3-6, 1-6). Junior Yannick Jackson won in the opening round of Flight B Singles, but lost to Simba Happy of Florida A & M in the quarterfinals (5-7, 1-6). Junior Christian Cruz also won in the opening round but was defeated by Steffen Osborn of Xavier in the quarterfinals (0-6, 1-6). Both senior Stefan James and sophomore Emil Vassiley were eliminated in the opening round of Flight A Singles.
As for doubles play, Emil Vassiley / Kristofer Martin competed in Doubles Flight B, and were defeated in the opening round by Atkinson / Nelson of Southern (8-9). The Men's team finished the tournament with 11 Team Points.
Senior Jeneice Ward and Chanetra Brown both won their opening round matches, but lost in the quarterfinals.
In Women's Doubles, Jeneice Ward / Andrea Paez advanced to the Flight B Doubles Semifinal, beating Winston-Salem State's Benjamin / Smith (8-0), but were defeated by Xavier's Callis / Dominguez (1-8). The Women's team finished the tournament with 13 Team Points.
Tennis Coach Trey Bogue sees potential in the outcome of the HBCU Nationals.
“We expected to place higher, so we were a bit disappointed with where we finished,” Bogue said, “but now we know what we've got to do in order to get where we want to be.”
Both teams' next action of the fall is the UNF Invitational, beginning Oct. 10, in Jacksonville, Fla.
