Men finish 7th in SCIAC tourney
Campus Times
April 23, 1999
Freshman Jarrod Hesler lunges for the ball Friday during the SCIAC
tennis championships last weekend. Hesler won both his doubles and singles
matches, helping the University of La Verne team beat Whittier. Men's tennis
concluded with a 2-8 SCIAC record and 4-11 record overall. The team will
participate in the Ojai tournament this weekend.
Not even David Dang's tennis ball-colored watch could distract the Southern
California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) players from dealing
La Verne defeats last weekend.
The SCIAC men's tennis championship was held at the Nancy Blickenstaff
Pavilion Friday and Saturday at ULV in which the Leopards walked away with
a seventh-place finish, ending their 1999 season.
"This is the best we have had since I've been here," said
senior Sergio Velazquez. "I met many of my personal expectations."
La Verne put down its rackets but had a reason to hold its chin high,
as it improved from previous seasons to finish with a 1-5 record in SCIAC
play and an overall record of 3-8. This is a major improvement from last
year's dismal 0-12 overall record.
"Most of the teams we played were at a different level than us,"
said senior Chris Perez. "We could only hope to play at the best of
our ability."
The only conference win for the Leopards came with the victory over
the Whittier College Poets. Overall wins for La Verne included Western New
Mexico University and the College of Norte Dame .
"We went into conference play hoping to beat at least one team,"
said freshman Jarrod Hesler.
Redlands took the conference honors with a 7-0 SCIAC record and a first-place
finish in the tournament. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps finished second with a
6-1 conference record, and the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer took third place
honors.
"We should have beat a few more schools than we did," said
Velazquez, "but we most often won crucial matches."
Key players this year for the Leopards was team number one ranked Velazquez
and Hesler with 13 matches won.
"We got used to playing with each other," said Hesler. "Our
personal and doubles playing improved with each match. We wanted to finish
better than last year's team."
Improvement was the primary characteristic of La Verne's season. ULV's
play throughout the year showed it, and its record proves it.
"I participated in the art of competion," said Velazquez.
"I am glad I was part of the tennis experience here."
