April 26, 2008

Rockford, Ill. - The Western Michigan men's tennis team made short work of Ball State on Saturday afternoon, as the Broncos picked up their third-straight Mid-American Conference Tournament championship with a 4-0 win over the Cardinals at the Clock Tower Racquet Club.

With the victory, Western Michigan improves to 20-7 and advances to the NCAA Tournament. Bal State ends their season with a mark of 12-13.

Western Michigan got on the board first as they captured the doubles point with victories from both their No. 1 and No. 3 squad. Broncos' seniors Bryan Norville and Alex Birchmeier paired up at No. 1 singles for the 8-6 win over Jose Perdomo and Jorge Rodriguez. WMU's No. 3 tandem of freshmen Michael Calderone and Kazuya Komada claimed the 8-4 triumph over Shaun Bussert and Joe Vallee.

Hayward also posted the 6-0, 6-0 whitewash victory over Perdomo at No. 1 singles, while Calderone picked up the 6-1, 6-3 win over Danny Vidal at No. 6 singles. The Broncos received their match-clinching victory at No. 3 singles when Alejandro Staub defeated Bret Berryman, 6-1, 6-0.

Men's Tennis

Western Michigan 4, Ball State 0

Mid-American Conference Tournament

April 26, 2008 * Rockford, Illinois

Clock Tower Racquet Club

Singles:
1. Kevin Hayward (WMU) def. Jose Perdomo (BSU) 6-0, 6-0

2. Alex Birchmeier (WMU) vs. Eduardo Pavia (BSU) 6-3, 0-1, unfinished

3. Alejandro Staub (WMU) def. Bret Berryman (BSU) 6-1, 6-0

4. Kazuya Komada (WMU) vs. Jorge Rodriguez (BSU) 6-4, 2-1, unfinished

5. Bryan Norville (WMU) vs. Shaun Bussert (BSU) 3-6, 1-5, unfinished

6. Michael Calderone (WMU) def. Danny Vidal (BSU) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles:

1. Bryan Norville/Alex Birchmeier (WMU) def. Jose Perdomo/Jorge Rodriguez (BSU) 8-6

2. Casey Cullen/Kevin Hayward (WMU) vs. Bret Berryman/Eduardo Pavia (BSU) 4-5, unfinished

3. Michael Calderone/Kazuya Komada (WMU) def. Shaun Bussert/Joe Vallee (BSU) 8-4

##NIU##