April 24, 2012

Cowboys Looking To Get Back On Top

Shane Williford Video Advance
 
ABILENE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons' men's tennis team has one thing on its mind as it heads to Tyler for the 2012 American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament -- get back on top of the ladder.
 
The Cowboys have won more league titles than anyone with seven, but Texas-Tyler has won the last four including last year in the ASC final, 5-2, against the Cowboys. HSU returns five of the seven players that played in the ASC Championship a year ago. 

HSU's lineup features three sophomores and four seniors. The Cowboys went 10-6 on the year and are 9-3 against Division III teams this season. HSU earned a first-round bye as champions of the ASC West.

 "We have a very talented and experienced team," said head coach Shane Williford. "We are taking it one match at a time but we have the ability to go out there and win the tournament. Our guys have worked extremely hard and they are focused."  

Sophomore Erich Bein leads the Cowboys at No. 1 singles. He went 6-0 in conference and is 11-4 on the season. Senior Sean Strehlow is 8-7 on the year at No. 2 singles and was 5-1 in ASC play. Senior Cullen Dees is 7-8 on the year at No. 3 singles and was also 5-1 in league play.

Sophomore Michael McCullough is 12-4 on the year and went 11-4 at No. 4 singles, including 6-0 in conference play. Senior Gavin Ybarra went 8-8 at No. 5 singles. Sophomore Steven Stanley was 8-5 at No. 6 singles.   

The Cowboys have received solid doubles play all year long. Bein and Strehlow have teamed to go 11-5 on the year at No. 1. McCullough and senior Tony Record are 10-6 at No. 2 doubles and Stanley and Ybarra are 8-6 at No. 3 doubles.  

HSU will receive a first round bye and will play the winner of Friday's match between Mississippi College and McMurry at 9:30 at the Tyler Tennis and Swim Club. If the Cowboys win, they will play in the final at the Summers Tennis Center at UT-Tyler on Sunday at 1 p.m for the ASC Championship.

Live statistics will be available throughout the event as well as selected live video streaming and video highlights. The links can be found on the conference's website, www.ASCsports.org, and the official championships website, www.uttylerpatriots.com.

 

 

2012 AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

April 27-29 / Summers Tennis Center & Tyler Tennis and Swim Club / Tyler, Texas

-Men's Seeds-

East Division: #1 Texas-Tyler (15-5, 6-0 ASC), #2 Mississippi College (10-3, 5-1 ASC), #3 Texas-Dallas (10-3, 4-2 ASC)

West Division: #1 Hardin-Simmons (10-6, 6-0 ASC), #2 Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-6, 5-1 ASC), #3 McMurry (6-10, 3-3 ASC)

 

MEN'S TOURNAMENT

Friday, April 27

Quarterfinals

Match 1: Mississippi College (E2) vs. McMurry (W3), 9:30 a.m., TTSC

Match 2: Mary Hardin-Baylor (W2) vs. Texas-Dallas (E3), 9:30 a.m., Summers

Saturday, April 28

Semifinals

Match 3: Hardin-Simmons (W1) vs. Winner of Match 1 [MC/McM], 9:30 a.m., TTSC

Match 4: Texas-Tyler (E1) vs. Winner of Match 2 [UMHB/UTD], 9:30 a.m., Summers

Sunday, April 29

Championship

Match 5: Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4, 1 p.m., Summers

 

 

 

ALL-TIME ASC TENNIS CHAMPIONS

MEN

Year            ASC Champion

1997            Howard Payne

1998            Hardin-Simmons

1999            Schreiner

2000            Mississippi College

2001            Mississippi College

2002            Hardin-Simmons

2003            Hardin-Simmons

2004            Hardin-Simmons

2005            Hardin-Simmons

2006            Hardin-Simmons

2007            Hardin-Simmons

2008            Texas-Tyler

2009            Texas-Tyler

2010            Texas-Tyler

2011            Texas-Tyler