May 13, 2008
Mobile, AL-The Graceland men's tennis team made history on Tuesday afternoon in Mobile. Never having made it past the second round of the NAIA National Tournament, the Jackets were victorious today over Vanguard University (CA) 5-4 qualifying for the semi-finals for the first time in the history of the school. A sport typically dominated by warm-climate schools, Graceland is researching whether or not this is the first time ever that a school north of the Mason-Dixon line has qualified for the quarters. In any case, the Jackets pulled off a rare feat today.
Graceland started out the day sweeping the doubles matches taking a 3-0 early lead on Vanguard. The Lions however would come charging back defeating the top four Jacket tennis players taking a 4-3 lead in the match. That would leave the match in the hands of the Jackets #5 player Junior Thomas Brodbeck (Cerny, France) and their #6 player senior Mario Paz (Santa Cruz, Bolivia). Brodbeck and Vanguard #5 player Thomas Frank would split the first two sets and Brodbeck would take the third setting with a commanding 6-2 win tying the match at 4-4 and leaving the match squarely in the hands of senior Mario Paz. After split sets to open the match, Paz built up a 5-2 lead and held on to polish off the match 6-3 setting up some late magic at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center and advancing the Jackets into their first ever National Quarter-Final.
"Graceland made history today for the first time in our history," Coach Hampton said following the huge win. "I'm so excited for this team and the work they've put in. They deserve all the credit for the hard work they have put in this year. We are going to keep pushing tomorrow and we'll let the chips fall were they may," concluded Hampton from Mobile.
The Jackets are slated to play the #3 seed Fresno Pacific Sundbirds at 1:00 tomorrow in Mobile at the Copeland Cox Tennis Center. Check back to the Jacket Athletic Website for continued updates on the men's tennis team and their push for a National Championship.
For More Information on Graceland University Athletics Contact: Matt Shelton, Sports Information Director (641) 784-5318 mshelton@graceland.edu
