April 26, 2024
Westcliff Brings the Heat in Arizona, Wins Back-to-Back GSAC Men's Tennis Titles
The Westcliff men's tennis team once again rose to the occasion and took care of their opponents to claim the 2024 GSAC Men's Tennis Tournament title.
The Warriors (13-8, GSAC 6-0) came into the conference tournament as the only undefeated member and finished the season winning seven of their last 10 matches.
In the semifinal match, the Warriors took on Hope International and won convincingly 4-0.
WU took the upper hand when they won the doubles point with the help of their doubles pair two of Felix Veyhle/Max Mueller and pair three of Maxence Kupfert/Angel Melgar.
Both pairs won their match without dropping a game as the teams transitioned into the singles play.
Angel Melgar continued his dominance on the court and was the first singles player that finished with a straight-set win of 6-1, 6-1.
Melgar has been one of Westcliff's most reliable and consistent players and makes everyone feel reassured when he is present on the courts.
"Angel is a really good example of consistent work ethic," said Head Coach Ross Duncan. "He trains with the same mentality day in and day out. He very seldom has a day off in training and unbelievably it shows off in his longer matches.
"The longer rallies and smart decisions. He's just reliable, on and off the court."
Singles No. 2 Maxence Kupfert who possesses the elegant one-hand backhand that so many envy, brought high energy and intensity in his win 6-2, 6-3.
With just one win left to advance to the championship match, it was none other than the GSAC Player of the Year, Felix Veyhle who stepped up and won his match 6-2, 6-4.
Veyhle, who has been a cornerstone of the Westcliff tennis program, has been hitting his stride later in the season and it came to fruition at a crucial time.
The Warriors booked their spot for the final day of the tournament and they would take on Menlo College just like in the women's bracket.
On the championship day, the Warriors followed a similar pattern as their doubles two and three won their respective matches with identical scores of 6-0.
Again, Veyhle/Mueller and Kupfert/Melgar were able to get the important doubles point as the Warriors' No. 1 pair struggled.
"We had a team meeting and discussed getting better in doubles and kind of rearranged our practice to focus more on our doubles," Duncan said of the importance of the doubles point. "Those changes showed winning the doubles point against CMS and winning the doubles again (GSAC Tournament).
"One of the top doubles teams didn't finish but the other two pairs rolled. We haven't had that all year."
With the advantage in the score, Westcliff started to overpower and outwork their opponent as they tallied up the wins needed to be crowned GSAC Tennis Champions.
The final score on the last day was Warriors 4-0.
Singles No. 1 Veyhle was unstoppable from the baseline and his low backhands were clicking from the beginning.
Veyhle won his match 6-1, 6-1.
Singles No. 3 Borna Devald who has been dealing with a groin injury was able to fight through the discomfort and showed his strong spirit on the court winning 6-2, 6-0.
Then back to the 'Mr. Reliable,' Angel Melgar took care of his opponent winning 6-2, 6-0 as the singles No. 5.
After an hour and fifty-one minutes since the first serve, the Westcliff Warriors secured their second title of the day. The men and women players huddled together in celebration of this momentous occasion.
The Warriors made it look easy, but their success is the result of hard work put in since last year.
As they bask in the glory of earning the 2024 GSAC Men's Tennis title, the team also knows that there is a lot left to do at the national level.
The men's team ranked No. 5 in the NAIA will start their preparations for the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championships held in Mobile, Alabama from May 14-18.