Earlham Ends Transy’s Eight Year Run as HCAC Tennis Champs

Match Results (click here)

Photo courtesy of Tom Strickland

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Earlham College's men's tennis team claimed the school's first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference team championship on Sunday afternoon.  The Quakers finished in a three-way tie for first place during the regular season (7-1) and claimed the tournament title at West Indy Racquet Club in Indianapolis.

Earlham posted wins over Hanover and Rose-Hulman before knocking off top seeded Transylvania in the championship. 

In Sunday's championship match with Transy, the Quakers held on for a 5-1 victory. Earlham posted wins at all three doubles positions.  Henry Levin (Dallas, Tex.) and Johnny Kauffman (Goshen, Ind.) knocked off Will Palmer (Lexington, Ky.) and Tyler Pewitt (Frankfort, Ky.) of Transylvania at No. 1 doubles 8-5.  Brad Maisey (Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand) teamed with Mike Von Vogt (South Bristol, Me.) for a win at No. 2 doubles 9-8, (7-4), while Andrey Gavrilov (Yaroslavl, Russia) and Scott Lawrence (Letchworth, England) earned a win at the No. 3 position 9-8, (7-1).

In singles play, Earlham earned wins at No. 3 and 5 singles.  Maisey earned a win at No. 3 singles over Joseph Glass (Paris, Ky.) 6-4, 6-2 and Von Vogt knocked off Jett Glass (Paris, Ky.) at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 6-2.

The lone Transylvania victory came from the No. 6 singles position.  Sophomore Tyler Pewitt (Frankfort, Ky.) handed EC's Kauffman a 7-6 (5), 6-0 defeat.

With claiming the conference title, Earlham has earned the conference's automatic bid to play in the NCAA Division III tennis championships beginning May 13.  It will be the school's first ever appearance in the Division III NCAA tennis tournament.