Championship Coverage

Enrique Olivares scored his third consecutive tournament MVP honor. Image courtesy of ASunPhotos.com

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The No. 1 ETSU Buccaneers faced off with the No. 2 Stetson Hatters to claim their third consecutive Men's Tennis Championship at the ETSU Buddy Hartell Tennis Center. ETSU senior Enrique Olivares received the MVP award.

All-Freshman No. 5 singles player Robin Akser clinched the win for the Bucs as he defeated Hatter Cesare Gallo, 6-3, 6-4.

Like its women’s team, Stetson jumped ahead first, winning the doubles point. The duo of Filip Kricka and Mark Mestan were the deciding factor for Stetson doubles, defeating Grega Teraz/Charles Bottoni after a tie breaker, 9-8 (4).

Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Olivares finished first in the No. 1 singles spot taking down First-Team All-Conference and All-Tournament Selection Filip Kricka 6-0, 6-7, 6-0. Olivares’ teammate Sander Gille won No. 2 singles shutting down Mark Mestan, 6-4, 6-2. Alex Ahlgren gave the Bucs their first lead of the day, dropping Gokay Celik at No. 6, 6-3, 6-2.

The Bucs become the first A-Sun team to win three consecutive titles since UCF won three-straight from 2003-2005, and ETSU becomes the first A-Sun school since FIU in 1994 to claim the men’s and women’s championships in the same season. The Bucs find out who they will face at the NCAA’s Tuesday, April 28th on ESPNNews. Single and doubles selections will be released Wednesday, April 29th.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

All-Tournament Team
Filip Kricka, Stetson
Mark Mestan, Stetson
Maksim Levanovich, Stetson
Robin Akser, ETSU
Sander Gille, ETSU

Most Valuable Player
Enrique Olivares, ETSU

Results
Singles

1. #13 Enrique Olivares (ETSU) def. Filip Kricka (STET) 6-0, 6-7(4), 6-0
2. Sander Gille (ETSU) def. Mark Mestan (STET) 6-4, 6-2
3. Maksim Levanovich (STET) def. Grega Teraz (ETSU) 7-6 (4), 6-2
4. Njal Stene (STET) vs. Daniel Isaza (ETSU) no result
5. Robin Akser (ETSU) def. Cesare Gallo (STET) 6-3, 6-4
6. Alex Ahlgren (ETSU) def. Gokay Celik (STET) 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1, 6, 3, 2, 5

Doubles

1. #63 Alex Ahlgren/Enrique Olivares (ETSU) def. Njal Stene/Chris Swanteson (STET) 8-4
2. Filip Kricka/Mark Mestan (STET) def. Grega Teraz/Charles Bottoni (ETSU) 9-8 (4)
3. Maksim Levanovich/Cesare Gallo (STET) def. Robin Akser/Daniel Isaza (ETSU) 8-5
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2