PSAC Men's Tennis Championships Homepage
INDIANA, Pa. – West Chester University’s men’s tennis squad heads into the 2013 PSAC Championships as the top seed and favorite in the semifinals and finals, which will be conducted Friday and Saturday at Maple Street Courts in Indiana, Pa.
West Chester (9-9) faces fourth-seeded Edinboro on Friday in the PSAC semifinals at 3 p.m. The other semifinal, pitting second-seeded Kutztown against third-seeded Mercyhurst, will be played at 1 p.m. The winners meet in the 2013 PSAC Championship Match on Saturday at 11 a.m.
This past Sunday, Edinboro (15-6) handed West Chester its only conference loss, 5-4, in Edinboro.
“They are ready for the rematch,” West Chester head coach Tina Tharp stated.
This is the Golden Rams’ first visit to the conference semifinals since the PSAC adopted the team championship format back in 2004. The Golden Rams are in search of their third conference title and first since 1986. West Chester also won the PSAC championship in 1984.
“The last tennis championship came almost 30 years ago,” Tharp explained. “We discussed that these players are on the cusp of doing something extraordinary, and this opportunity might not come around again. It is a strong league on the men’s side.”
The singles lineup is led by reigning PSAC Athlete of the Week, J.J. Cooke, who is currently on a 10-match winning streak and has an overall record of 11-1, including 4-0 in the PSAC. Senior, David Goldenberg plays at the fourth singles position and owns a record of 11-4 overall. He is 7-3 in his last 10 matchups. However, one of those losses was to Edinboro’s Colin Bandell on Sunday in three sets.
In the doubles competition, juniors Wanzell Flemming and Cody Leimback are undefeated in the PSAC at 5-0 and have an overall record of 14-5. The two are currently on an 11-match winning streak. Another powerful duo is Goldenberg and Steve Hlava. Also undefeated in the conference at 5-0, Goldenberg and Hlava hold an overall record of 11-5, including 8-2 in their last 10 matchups. Chaz Irwin and Pat McGinley, newcomers to the Rams’ roster in the spring semester make up the squad’s No. 1 doubles tandem while also holding down spots in the singles lineup.
West Chester enters the postseason winners in 9 of its last 11, after beginning the season 0-7.
“The additions of Chaz and Pat really helped us fill out our lineup,” Tharp commented. “There was also a good feeling come out of our spring break. They got a lot of tennis – a lot of tough tennis – in during the break. The team started to come together.”
West Chester finds itself in unchartered territory in three decades, entering the conference tournament as the top seed and favorite. Tharp feels her team is aware of the expectations and welcomes the challenge.
“Our No. 1 goal has not been accomplished,” Tharp pointed out. “We don’t feel like we have a target on our back because we still have to go out and win a championship.”
Full coverage of the 2013 PSAC Men's Tennis Championships can be found
HERE.
