oakley
05-26-05, 02:29 AM
M. tennis: Tennis avenges painful losses
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http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/images/2005/5/25/1sp.m.tennis.picA.jpg
Philipp Gruendler and the men’s tennis team capitalized on chances for revenge.
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By David Regan
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
dregan@media.ucla.edu
When the UCLA men's tennis team looked at the bracket prior to the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, there was one particular thing that stood out – the incredible chance for revenge.
The Bruins knew that if everything went according to plan, they would have a unique opportunity to avenge three of their last four losses, including the most hurtful: a 4-0 loss to Baylor in last season's NCAA championship match.
UCLA executed the plan to perfection, and with Tuesday's 4-3 victory over Baylor in the NCAA final, the ultimate revenge was complete.
"We were talking about it all season," said sophomore Philipp Gruendler, whose win at No. 6 singles gave the Bruins a chance to complete their comeback from 3-1 down. "We had three season losses and were talking about all the revenge we could get.
"We got the final revenge in the final. How could it be better?"
Frankly, it couldn't.
UCLA's last four losses, dating back to the end of last season, had come against Cal, USC, Virginia and Baylor.
After defeating USC in the final match of the regular season, the national champion Bruins (27-3) defeated Cal in the second round, second-seeded Virginia in the quarterfinals, and top-seeded Baylor (33-1) in the title match, snapping the Bears' 57-game winning streak.
"Throughout the season, we were looking at the silver trophy for second-place finishers last year," senior Kris Kwinta said. "It was just making everybody sick, and it made everybody work harder toward the championship."
Before the tournament began, UCLA coach Billy Martin talked about the psychological advantage a team usually has when it is attempting to avenge a loss, particularly in a tournament situation.
Martin was especially pleased to see his team's draw, and now there is little wonder why.
"It's just amazing to get revenge for all the matches you lost," Gruendler said. "Those losses, they make you tough.
"It was perfect. It was a perfect season."
DOUBLES DEBACLE: Much like last season's NCAA Championship, the Bruins were absolutely destroyed in doubles Tuesday, allowing Baylor to race out to a quick 1-0 advantage with victories at No. 2 and No. 3.
"If it was possible to do a worse job in doubles than we did against them last year, I think we did that," Martin said.
The Bruin coach said he expressed his extreme disappointment with his players' intensity as he addressed them during the break between doubles and singles.
Whatever was said, it must have worked.
"Last year when we lost the doubles against Baylor, I was kind of down," Kwinta said. "This year I was pissed off. I didn't care. I wanted to go to the courts as soon as possible and start fighting with the guy.
"I was pissed off with myself, my teammates, that we let up in the doubles."
Senior Alberto Francis received some extra motivation from a Baylor fan as he was leaving the court after losing the doubles point.
"He said, 'You guys still suck, just like last year,'" Francis said. "And that really pissed me off. That kind of just lit a fire."
NCAA SINGLES TOURNEY: Sophomore Ben Kohlloeffel is the only Bruin competing in the NCAA Singles Tournament after senior Luben Pampoulov withdrew.
Kohlloeffel, a 9-16 seed, defeated Tim Eklund of South Carolina, 6-4, 6-4, in yesterday's first round.
He faces Virginia's Rylan Rizza in the Round of 32 today.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Kohlloeffel (No. 2), Francis (No. 5) and Gruendler (No. 6) were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
The doubles team of Francis and Kwinta was named to the All-Tournament Team at the No. 1 doubles position.
Baylor's Benedikt Dorsch was named Most Outstanding Player for the second consecutive season.
TELEVISION COVERAGE: The NCAA Championship will be replayed on channel ESPN2 on May 31 at 12 p.m. PST.
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http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/images/2005/5/25/1sp.m.tennis.picA.jpg
Philipp Gruendler and the men’s tennis team capitalized on chances for revenge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
By David Regan
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
dregan@media.ucla.edu
When the UCLA men's tennis team looked at the bracket prior to the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, there was one particular thing that stood out – the incredible chance for revenge.
The Bruins knew that if everything went according to plan, they would have a unique opportunity to avenge three of their last four losses, including the most hurtful: a 4-0 loss to Baylor in last season's NCAA championship match.
UCLA executed the plan to perfection, and with Tuesday's 4-3 victory over Baylor in the NCAA final, the ultimate revenge was complete.
"We were talking about it all season," said sophomore Philipp Gruendler, whose win at No. 6 singles gave the Bruins a chance to complete their comeback from 3-1 down. "We had three season losses and were talking about all the revenge we could get.
"We got the final revenge in the final. How could it be better?"
Frankly, it couldn't.
UCLA's last four losses, dating back to the end of last season, had come against Cal, USC, Virginia and Baylor.
After defeating USC in the final match of the regular season, the national champion Bruins (27-3) defeated Cal in the second round, second-seeded Virginia in the quarterfinals, and top-seeded Baylor (33-1) in the title match, snapping the Bears' 57-game winning streak.
"Throughout the season, we were looking at the silver trophy for second-place finishers last year," senior Kris Kwinta said. "It was just making everybody sick, and it made everybody work harder toward the championship."
Before the tournament began, UCLA coach Billy Martin talked about the psychological advantage a team usually has when it is attempting to avenge a loss, particularly in a tournament situation.
Martin was especially pleased to see his team's draw, and now there is little wonder why.
"It's just amazing to get revenge for all the matches you lost," Gruendler said. "Those losses, they make you tough.
"It was perfect. It was a perfect season."
DOUBLES DEBACLE: Much like last season's NCAA Championship, the Bruins were absolutely destroyed in doubles Tuesday, allowing Baylor to race out to a quick 1-0 advantage with victories at No. 2 and No. 3.
"If it was possible to do a worse job in doubles than we did against them last year, I think we did that," Martin said.
The Bruin coach said he expressed his extreme disappointment with his players' intensity as he addressed them during the break between doubles and singles.
Whatever was said, it must have worked.
"Last year when we lost the doubles against Baylor, I was kind of down," Kwinta said. "This year I was pissed off. I didn't care. I wanted to go to the courts as soon as possible and start fighting with the guy.
"I was pissed off with myself, my teammates, that we let up in the doubles."
Senior Alberto Francis received some extra motivation from a Baylor fan as he was leaving the court after losing the doubles point.
"He said, 'You guys still suck, just like last year,'" Francis said. "And that really pissed me off. That kind of just lit a fire."
NCAA SINGLES TOURNEY: Sophomore Ben Kohlloeffel is the only Bruin competing in the NCAA Singles Tournament after senior Luben Pampoulov withdrew.
Kohlloeffel, a 9-16 seed, defeated Tim Eklund of South Carolina, 6-4, 6-4, in yesterday's first round.
He faces Virginia's Rylan Rizza in the Round of 32 today.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Kohlloeffel (No. 2), Francis (No. 5) and Gruendler (No. 6) were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
The doubles team of Francis and Kwinta was named to the All-Tournament Team at the No. 1 doubles position.
Baylor's Benedikt Dorsch was named Most Outstanding Player for the second consecutive season.
TELEVISION COVERAGE: The NCAA Championship will be replayed on channel ESPN2 on May 31 at 12 p.m. PST.