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Men's tennis heads to NCAA tourney

April 28, 2008

KALAMAZOO--The top-seeded Western Michigan University men's tennis team has completed its second straight undefeated run through the Mid-American Conference, taking the championship title in regular season and MAC Tournament play. WMU now advances to the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship Tournament.

Under the direction of head coach and MAC Coach of the Year Dave Morin, the team captured its third tournament championship in a row, and sixth overall, with a 4-0 shut out against conference rival Ball State. The tournament match at the Clock Tower Racquet Club in Rockford, Ill., ended in the 20th win of the season for WMU. This is the team's second 20-win season in as many years--the eighth in team history.

Senior Alex Birchmeier and junior Kevin Hayward were named to the All-MAC first team. Second-team selections included WMU freshman Kazuya Komada and senior Alejandro Staub.

Morin was named the conference's coach of the year for the sixth time. The honor first went to Morin in 1994, when he was head tennis coach at Bowling Green State University. He has previously earned the honor at WMU at the conclusions of the 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2006 seasons.

"I think what really makes this special is this team had so many new guys in the program or moving up in the lineup and guys kept stepping up and responding to the challenges presented to them," Morin says. "It wasn't easy, but it is super exciting, and we are looking forward to the NCAAs and trying to advance."

This year's undefeated run marked the 20th regular-season MAC championship for the WMU men's tennis team. The Broncos also earned the title in 1950, 1952, 1954-65, 1981, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007. WMU set a new MAC record for men's tennis with its 20th title, breaking a previous 19-championships tie with Ball State.

The WMU men's tennis team has won the MAC Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament five other times, in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. The team will make its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10. The 20-7 Broncos will make the short trip east to Ann Arbor, Mich., to battle No. 16-ranked University of Michigan.

May 10, 2008

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--Western Michigan University's men's tennis team saw its season end Saturday, May 10, but not before it grabbed a bit of program history.

The Broncos earned their first point in an NCAA Tournament appearance, winning two of the three doubles flights, before losing four singles matches in a 4-1 loss at the University of Michigan.

For more information, visit wmubroncos.com.

Media contact: Mat Kanan, (269) 387-4125, mat.kanan@wmich.edu

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