Sept. 30, 2007

PENSACOLA, Fla. - UWF hosted the NCAA Division II Wilson/ITA South Region Championships at the Ralph "Skeeter" Carson Tennis Complex this past weekend. In the men's singles bracket, after two early round wins, Nicolas Barrientos (Cali, Colombia) defeated teammate Eduardo Cavasotti (Florianopolis, Brazil) 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the finals to face Valdosta State University top seeded Florian Halb. Halb defeated Barrientos in straight sets (6-4, 6-2) to earn the singles regional championship and a trip to the national tournament.

In men's doubles, Barrientos teamed with Jose Ycaza (Ecuador) for three early round wins, including a 9-8 win over Valdosta State's Halb and Michael Kuech, to advance to the finals. Barrientos and Ycaza fell short in the finals against the Valdosta State team of Joerg Ekkenga and Leos Jelinek by a 8-4 score. Thus the Valdosta State team earned the doubles regional championship, and a trip to the national tournament. West Florida's other top doubles team of Eduardo Cavasotti (Florianapolis, Brazil) and Luis Arboleda (Medellin, Colombia) had reached the semifinals also falling short to the eventual champions Ekkenga and Jelinek.

In other singles play, the Argos Luis Arboleda won two matches before falling to the top seeded Halb by a 7-6, 6-3 score. Ycaza also won his first two matches before being knocked out by Leos Jelinek of Valdosta State 6-4, 6-2. Luiz Bernardi and Jordan Mead each had opening round wins before bowing out in round two. Gui Jasmin defeated Lucas nunes (West Alabama) to advance to the consolation finals before bowing to Carlin Tighe of West Alabama by an 8-4 score.

In other Doubles play, Arboleda and Cavasoti reached the semifinals before bowing to the eventual champions Ekkenga and Jelinek in a close 9-7 match. meanwhile Jasmin and Mead reached the finals of the consolation round and were defeated by Harris and Meintjes of West Alabama by an 8-5 score.

(by Gui Amaral Jasmin)