By Beth Renkoski

05/13/09

Johansson Gets No. 200 as VU Advances to Quarterfinals

Lemke awaits a play for VU (photo courtesy of the NAIA)

Mobile, Ala. - Copeland-Cox Tennis Center – Despite a three-hour rain delay, Vanguard University advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2009 NAIA Men’s Tennis National Championships today with a 5-3 victory over Graceland University of Iowa. The win not only avenged last year’s season-ending second round loss to the GU Yellowjackets, but the decision was the 200th men’s tennis victory in Coach Mattias Johansson’s career at Vanguard.

Splashing through a three-hour rain delay during doubles play, the Vanguard Lions found themselves trailing 2-1at the end of the three doubles matches. VU’s lone point came from an 8-4 decision by Tino Brodar and Fredric Sandberg, the ITA’s seventh-ranked doubles team, in the number one position. Graceland notched an 8-4 victory at No. 2 and an 8-6 win at No. 3 to win two of three from the Lions, but it was still more promising than last year’s doubles sweep by the Yellowjackets.

Unlike last year, the Lions needed only four wins in singles play instead of five, and that proved possible as Vanguard got down to business quickly with the one-on-one action. Lemke, the ITA’s top-ranked NAIA men’s player, defeated Remy Caffardo 6-1, 7-6, while Brodar (6-1, 6-4), Sandro Bucher (6-2, 6-4), and senior Thomas Frank (6-2, 6-1) were also victorious in straight sets. Graceland earned its final point with a 7-5, 6-1 win at No. 6 and the No. 2 match remained unfinished as the Lions clinched the 5-3 win prior to its conclusion.

The victory propels the Lions into the quarterfinals for the fifth time in the last six years where the Lions will face top-ranked Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) for the first time since the 2006 quarterfinal round. AUM shutout Xavier (La.) 5-0 today to advance to tomorrow’s quarterfinal meeting with the Lions.

Vanguard, improving to 16-7 overall with today’s win, is making its seventh straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament.  Go to the NAIA website for complete tournament information.

Today’s GSAC Match Scores:

No. 8 Vanguard (16-7) vs. No. 9 Graceland (Ia.)
Doubles
1. Brodar/Sandberg vs. Caffardo/Brodbeck VU 8-4
2. Frank/Bucher vs. B. Waite/Cordova GU 8-4
3. Iwdal/Lemke vs. Matt Waite/Ramirez GU 8-6
Singles
1. Florian Lemke vs. Remy Caffardo VU 6-1, 7-6
2. Fredric Sandberg vs. Brett Waite 7-6, 5-3 (DNF)
3. Tino Brodar vs. Carlos Cordova VU 6-1, 6-4
4. Sandro Bucher vs. Thomas Brodbeck VU 6-2, 6-4
5. Thomas Frank vs. Daniel Ramirez VU 6-2, 6-1
6. Nils Iwdal vs. Matt Waite GU 7-5, 6-1

Final score: VU 5 GU 3
Season record 16-7