(CHARLESTON, WV) (April 20) --The Shepherd College men's tennis team did as expected on Saturday and won the West Virginia Conference tournament. What was not expected was how close the Rams were to coming in second.
After the opening day of the tournament on Friday, Shepherd found itself three points behind front-running West Virginia Wesleyan--a team that the Rams defeated handily during the regular season. Shepherd came up with a comeback bid on Saturday to tie Wesleyan on points. Fortunately for Chris Stambaugh and the Rams, the win over the Bobcats during the regular season was the tiebreaker to determine the conference champion.
"I don't think anyone on our team thought it would be so close," said Stambaugh of the tournament outcome. "We won big over every school in the conference. I just couldn't believe that we could be down by three points after the first day of play."
"I give a lot of credit to West Virginia Wesleyan," said Stambaugh. "They absolutely played their hearts out and scored upset after upset. I believe on Saturday that our team felt they had to reassert themselves and I am sure glad we came through."
Shepherd relied on their depth as they have all season, taking individual titles at slots three through six. Sophomore Mike Farrell (Peary/Ijamsville, MD), senior Thomas Bohrnstedt (Greenbrier East/Lewisburg, WV), junior Greg Selby (Brunswick (MD)/Shepherdstown, WV), and freshman Brian Clarke (Hedgesville/Hedgesville, WV) all won singles matches with their team's fate hanging in the balance.
Selby also teamed with freshman Tim Halter (Linganore/ New Market, MD) to capture the number two doubles title.
The win was the first conference championship for Shepherd since 1988. The Rams, as a result, receive an automatic bid to the Great Lakes regional tournament, time and place to be determined later. Stambaugh was also voted West Virginia Conference Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
FINAL RESULTS
SINGLES
1. Barry Ndinya (Davis & Elkins) d. Ben Sprenger (West Virginia Wesleyan) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
2. Nahashon Muraya (DE) d. Colin Saluja (WVW) 6-3, 6-1
3. Mike Farrell (SC) d. R.D. Bolyard (West Liberty) 6-0, 4-6, 7-5
4. Thomas Bohrnstedt (SC) d. Clark Campbell (WVW) 6-0, 6-1
5. Greg Selby (SC) d. Chris Pauley (WL) 6-1, 6-3
6. Brian Clarke (SC) d. Grant DeHaven (WVW) 6-1, 6-0
DOUBLES
1. Sprenger/Saluja (WVW) d. Mark O'Neill/Jesse Saunders (Concord) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
2. Selby/Tim Halter (SC) d. Pauley/Amos Allison (WL) 6-2, 6-3
3. Paul Nelson/Josh Olcott (WVW) d. Scott Eyler/Wray Sherman (SC) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
TEAM RESULTS
1. SHEPHERD
2. West Virginia Wesleyan
3. West Liberty
4. Davis & Elkins
5. Concord
Charleston (tie)7. Fairmont
8. West Virginia Tech
9. West Virginia State
10. Bluefield State
11. Salem International