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Wayne State University Athletics

4
Winner Wayne State WSUM (26-4)
3
Columbus State University CSU (22-3)
Winner
Wayne State WSUM
(26-4)
4
Final
3
Columbus State University CSU
(22-3)
Niklas Karcz Action 2022
Niklas Karcz won in a third-set tiebreaker to send the Warriors to the National Championship.

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Men's Tennis Downs No. 1-Columbus State, Advances to National Championship

The Warriors are the first Midwest Region team to play in the National Championship since 2002.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- The Wayne State University men's tennis team (26-4 overall) defeated No. 1-Columbus State (22-3 overall) in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon to advance to the NCAA National Championship.  Niklas Karcz (Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) provided the Warriors with the winning point, as he won a three-set battle.  WSU upended the Cougars 4-3.  

Karcz trailed 4-1 in the third set of his match, but collected himself and worked it to a tiebreaker.  In the tiebreaker, Karcz took control and collected a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (3) victory.  The Green and Gold will take on Barry tomorrow afternoon at 10 AM in the NCAA Division II National Championship. 

DOUBLES
The Warriors battled in doubles, but ultimately dropped the point.  Ben Lakeman (Penzance Cornwall, England) and Karcz dropped their match at No. 3 doubles, 3-6.

Luke Laws (Sunderland, England) and Dom Spicer (London, England) tied things up in doubles, with a 6-4 victory at the No. 2 spot. 

Cedric Drenth (Sulzbach, Germany) and Daniel Grey (Wiesbaden, Germany) played an intense match that went to a tiebreak.  However, the duo fell, 6-7 (3). 

SINGLES
Laws quickly evened the match at 1-1 with an impressive 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles.

But the Cougars responded with a win at No. 2, as Lakeman was upended, 4-6, 3-6.  That put CSU in front 2-1. 

Spicer played a gutsy match at the top spot of the lineup, and ended up defeating the No. 1 ranked player in the country in straight sets.  Spicer earned a 6-4, 6-4 win.  Spicer's opponent, Alvaro Regalado, had dropped just seven sets all season coming into today's match. 

Grey put the Warriors in front 3-2, with a comeback win at No. 4.  After splitting the first two sets, Grey trailed 3-0 early in the deciding set.  But he worked his way back into the match and collected a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win. 

Right behind that match, Drenth fell at No. 5, 2-6, 6-7 (6) to even the match at 3-3. 

All eyes turned to the No. 3 court, where Karcz and Tommaso Schold battled into a third set.  Neither player could find an edge, so a tiebreaker was needed to determine which team would head to tomorrow's National Championship.  Karcz took control of the tiebreak and sent the Warriors to the National Championship with a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (3) win.  

FROM COACH MORROW
"I was very disappointed in the way we competed in doubles and our decision making.  Then, magic hit, and the level of tennis in singles, I've never seen people fight like this and compete like this and never give up and step up big in the big moments.  We talk all the time that pressure is a privilege, and oh my gosh, the shots we hit under pressure, the way we held ourselves together, the composure, the fight was unbelievable.  This team is an unbelievable group of guys.  So close.  Such a family.  Obviously, could not be prouder of the group, but we're not done.  We got one more, and we're looking forward to a rematch with Barry.  It's been great, and we're looking forward and getting ready for tomorrow," coach Bryan Morrow said.  

UP NEXT
The Warriors will look to claim a National Championship for the first time in program history tomorrow afternoon.  The Green and Gold will meet Barry at 10 AM.  The Warriors upended Barry 4-3 earlier this season.  WSU is the first Midwest Region team to reach the National Championship since 2002 (Drury). 

 
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