Men's tennis faults
by Justin Kuntz
The Metropolitan
(Photo by Danny Holland- The Metropolitan)
Senior Andre Nilsson reaches for a backhand in a doubles win over Mesa State April 16. Nilsson captured RMAC Player of the Year honors and was also named to the singles All-RMAC First Team.
Metro men's tennis was seeded No. 4 when they faced the No. 5 seed and host school Mesa State in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
The 'Runners were hooked by the Mavericks and went down with a 5-4 loss Friday, April 23, and were bounced from the tournament.
Mesa State went on to lose to the Colorado Mines Orediggers 5-1 in the semifinals.
"I'm not disappointed in them, I'm disappointed for them," said head coach Dave Alden.
"They left it all on the court."
Nebraska-Kearney dug out Mines with a 5-0 victory and walked away with the 2004 RMAC Championship.
Although Metro did not come out of the season with an RMAC title, they did come out of the 2004 season decorated with individual awards, which were voted on by RMAC coaches.
Sophomore Andre Nilsson was voted the RMAC men's tennis player of the year and was voted No. 1 on the All-RMAC singles first-team.
Nilsson finished the year with a 12-3 singles record.
Jojo Mmopi finished out his senior year by joining Nilsson on the singles first-team with a No. 3 ranking.
Mmopi finished with an 8-8 record. Sophomore James Schumacher was voted No. 2 on the All-RMAC singles second-team.
In addition to their individual accomplishments, Nilsson and Mmopi received a team award when they were voted No. 1 on the All-RMAC doubles second team.
Their teammates Scott Flannigan and Schumacher were named No. 2 on the doubles second-team.
"I wish we could have done better, but they were recognized for what they did," said Alden.
On Friday, April 16, the Roadrunners faced the Mavericks and walked away with a 6-3 victory to win their third RMAC match.
The Roadrunners seemed confidant and poised going into the RMAC Tournament.
"After the start we had they could have easily thrown in the towel, but they didn't," Alden said. "That gives me great hope for next year."
Going into the No. 6 singles match, the teams were tied up at 4-4, with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
Mesa State's Adam Bryne defeated Roadrunner freshman Jacob Ratcliff 7-5, 6-1 to catapult the Mavericks into the next round.
Alden said it was Ratcliff's first year of collegiate tennis and "he played his heart out." "He did everything he could possibly do," Alden said.
Flannigan defeated the Mavericks' Micha Hill 7-6 (3), 6-4 in No. 4 singles after being down 5-1 and Love-40 on first set point.
"It was a gutsy performance," Alden said. "He got down but never gave up."
Metro finished its season 4-13.
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