Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The third-seed Panthers fell to the second-seed Racers of Northwestern Ohio 8-1 in the semifinals of the WHAC Tournament. The Panthers ended their second season 8-13 overall an improvement of five wins from their first season.

The Panthers got off to a rough start in doubles dropping all three matches. The one doubles team of Jeff Karasinski (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Victor Roland (Natal, Brazil) fell 8-2. The second doubles team of Vitaly Schumilov (Togliatti, Russia) and Matt Weiden (Kentwood, Mich.) were able to stay in the match early but couldn't keep pace late in a 8-4 loss. The Panthers fell into a 0-3 hole when the third doubles team of Eric Pell (Caledonia, Mich.) and Tyler Chambers (Rockford, Mich.) fell 8-1. 

Trailing 3-0 after the doubles session, Davenport needed a big effort from singles to get back in the match. After dropping the first set, Roland battled back in the second set before falling in a hard fought third set 10-7 in the one singles match. Jeff Karasinski, playing in the number two singles slot, lost a close first set 7-5 and then dropped the second set 6-4. Vitaly Shumilov, Matt Weiden and Tyler Chambers each dropped their singles matches in straight sets. Eric Pell got Davenports only win as he defeated the Racers number five singles player 6-2, 6-4.

Davenport finished the season 8-13 overall and 1-3 in conference. The Panthers will return 8 of their 10 players next season as the team looks to build on their third place finish in conference.

What are your thoughts on how both the men and women played today?

"The men came out and worked hard it was going to be a tough match no matter how they started and I couldn't be prouder of how they played they wre just overmatched. As far asThe women, they came out and won all three doubles and it is very difficult to overcome a 3-0 deficit and we happened to pick up the fourth and fifth wins at 1 and 3 singles so moving on toward tomorrow we are playing good tennis."

The women's team advanced and will take on Northwestern Ohio tomorrow, what do they need to do to pull out the win?

"The last time we played them we lost 5-4, a very close match. We won at the top and the matches were close at the bottom but we couldn't pull them out. If we can come out ahead in doubles, 2-1, that could be the difference."

You are near the end of your first season as head coach, how have you seen the teams progress?

"From the fall, these kids were a little raw but through practice and playing a lot of tough matches and tough opponents they have really refined themselves into very strong players, strong willed and I am very pleased."

What are your initial thoughts on your match today against Northwestern Ohio?

"Northwestern Ohio is a good team and they played a solid match and we did the best we could to get that win today and it didn't go our way but you got to fight every time and do what you can."

"The teams had a great improvement. We've seen an increase in the win column and we worked hard every single day. We've put in the time and put in the effort and its made a huge difference which you can tell by the record. We've also had a lot of close matches and a lot of 4, 5's that could have went either way and it could have been a lot better."

You've been with the tennis program for its first two seasons, how have you seen it change or progress?

"We've gotten a lot better, worked harder, had different practice plans, more players and recruiting. Obviously the first season you do the best you can to put together a team and now we are putting together a team and grabbing the players we want and just moving forward with it."