May 11, 2007

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Top-ranked West Florida's (26-4) impressive season came to an end against sixth-ranked Lynn University on Friday. Lynn defeated West Florida, 5-0, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II National Championships at Sanlando Park. Last season the Argonauts were defeated 5-2 by the Fighting Knights in the national semifinals in Kansas City.

The Fighting Knights swept the doubles action, earning all three points. Dante Bottini (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Nicolas Barrientos (Cali, Colombia) were defeated 8-5 in the first position. Diego Zorzi (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and his partner Luis Arboleda (Medellin, Colombia) were defeated 8-6 in the second position. Argonaut teammates Eduardo Cavasotti (Florianopolis, Brazil) and his partner Luiz Bernardi (Campinas, Brazil) were also lost 9-7 in the third position, giving the Fighting Knights the 3-0 lead.

Following the doubles action, and needing five out of a six possible points, the Argonauts fell short against the Fighting Knights. Playing in the third position, 38th ranked Barrientos was defeated in straight sets, giving the Fighting Knights a comfortable 4-0 lead. Seventh-ranked Zorzi, playing in the first position, was also defeated in straight sets, finishing the match and securing Lynn's spot in the NCAA Division II championship final.

The Argonauts posted a 27-4 record, finishing the season with a .867 winning percentage. Against Gulf South Conference opponents, the Argonauts posted a 9-1 record, with a .900 conference winning percentage. The Argonauts were also ranked first in the nation during the regular season, and runner-up in the GSC Tournament.

Diego Zorzi posted a 14-2 singles record, finishing the season with a .875 winning percentage including a 4-2 record in the first position and a 10-0 record in the second position. In doubles Zorzi was an impressive 21-3 record this season, including a 1-0 record in the first position and a 20-3 record in the second position, finishing with a .875 winning percentage in doubles. Zorzi was nationally ranked seventh in singles and 19th in doubles with partner Luis Arboleda.

Dante Bottini recorded a 15-4 singles record, finishing the season with a .789 winning percentage in singles, including a 12-4 record in the first position and a 3-0 record in the second position. In doubles Bottini posted an impressive 24-4 record in the first position this season, finishing with a .856 winning percentage. Bottini was nationally ranked sixth in singles and second in doubles with partner Nicolas Barrientos. Bottini was also named NCAA Division II/Intercollegiate Tennis Association South Region Senior of The Year.

Nicolas Barrientos posted a 16-10 singles record, finishing the season with a .615 winning percentage, including a 2-1 record in the first position, a 4-3 record in the second position and a 10-4 record in the third position. In doubles Barrientos was an impressive 24-4 record this season in the first position, and finished the season with a .857 winning percentage in doubles. Barrientos was nationally ranked 38th in singles and second in doubles with partner Bottini.

Eduardo Cavasotti finished with a 12-10 singles record, finishing the season with a .545 winning percentage in singles, including a 4-3 record in the third position and a 7-6 record in the fourth position. In doubles Cavasotti posted a 20-9 record, including a 1-0 record in the first position, a 4-2 record in the second position, and a 16-6 in the third position, finishing the season with a .690 winning percentage in doubles. Cavasotti was nationally ranked 44th in singles.

Luis Arboleda posted a 18-5 singles record, finishing the season with a .783 winning percentage, including a 3-0 in the third position, a 3-1 record in the fourth position and 7-4 in the fifth position. In doubles Arboleda put together a 26-4 record, including a 20-4 record in the second position and a 4-0 record in the third position, finishing the season with a .867 winning percentage in doubles. Arboleda was nationally ranked 19th in doubles.

Luiz Bernardi earned a 16-4 singles record, finishing the season with a .800 winning percentage in singles, including a 3-1 record in the fourth position, a 5-0 record in the fifth position and a 6-3 record in the sixth position. In doubles Bernardi posted a 20-9 record, including 4-0 in the fourth position and a 13-8 record in the third position. He finished the season with a .690 winning percentage in doubles.

Vivian Chhetri posted a 7-4 singles record, finishing the season with a .636 winning percentage in singles, including a 2-0 record in the third and fourth position and 2-1 record in the fifth position. In doubles, Chhetri was a perfect 7-0 in the third position.

Mark McGuigan recorded a 6-2 singles record, finishing the season with a .750 winning percentage in singles, including a 2-0 record in the fifth position and a 4-2 record in the sixth position. In doubles McGuigan posted an 1-0 record.

Marco Matteucci posted a 5-0 singles record, with three victories in the fifth position and three in the sixth position. In doubles, Matteucci was 2-0 with one victory in the second position and one in the third position.

Gui Jasmin posted a 1-0 singles record in the sixth position. In doubles Jasmin was 1-0 in the third position.

(By Gui Amaral Jasmin)