September 29, 2004
WESTERN SET TO HOST FIRST OUA CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE SEASON
The University of Western Ontario Mustangs have the honour of hosting the first OUA Championship of the season this weekend as tennis players from across Ontario and Quebec descend upon the London university and their homecoming weekend.
On the men's side, the Mustangs finished with a perfect 5-0 regular season record and will look to close out their perfect season on home soil. The two-time defending champions are led by fourth-year London native, Rob Schmidt. Schmidt, who claimed the OUA individual championship twice before it was removed from the competitive structure two years ago, has dropped only one match all season. Other key Mustangs include a former Davis Cup player for Canada in Andrew Nisker, and Dean Zimmerman, a 35-year-old student-athlete who held several number one rankings in Canada as a teenager.
"By far this is the strongest team I have ever coached;" Mustang Head Coach Anthony Glavanic has stated, "winning would be the only acceptable result."
McMaster, York and Brock all finished tied for second place. Using the tie-breaking rules of points earned in head-to-head fixtures, the Marauders took second place, while the Lions and Brock finished third and fourth respectively.
In a rematch of last year's gold medal match, the #1 Western Mustangs will face the #4 Brock Badgers in the first semi-final. The St. Catharines school won their first ever OUA tennis medal last season and will try to build upon that to overcome the two-time defending champions.
In the other semi-final, #2 McMaster Marauders may have their hands full with #3 York Lions. Despite losing out on the tie-breaker, the Lions did defeated McMaster 4-3 in the regular season. York also has giant killer, Ash Misquith (Edmonton, AB), a second-year Physics major, who knocked off Western standout Rob Schmidt last weekend in Toronto 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
In women's action, the #1 University of Toronto Varsity Blues head into the weekend with a perfect 6-0 regular season record. Laura Ozolins and Isabel Jarosz have led the way for Toronto, both going undefeated all season in singles and doubles play. Early in the season, the Blues became the first team in three years to defeat three-time defending OUA Champion York University Lions.
York, McGill and the host for this year's championship Western, all finished tied for second with 4-2 records. Head-to-head points earned in the fixtures broke the three-way tie, which saw York finish second overall, McGill third and the Mustangs fourth.
Toronto will face Western in the first semi-final. The Blues edged the Mustang 4-3 last weekend.
Despite losing only one key player from last season, the three-time defending champion Lions have struggled in 2004. On top of the loss to Toronto, York dropped a second game this season to McGill, their semi-final opponent. Veterans Kim Chu and Natasha Kimberg will look to keep the York streak alive and lead the team to an unprecedented fourth women's banner.
The action starts on Friday and continues with bronze and gold medal matches Saturday at Western Tennis Centre.
League all-stars will also be announced this weekend.
MEN'S DRAW
Friday, October 1, 2004
SEMI-FINALS
4:00 pm - #2 McMaster vs. #3 York
7:00 pm - #1 Western vs. #4 Brock
Saturday, October 2, 2004
BRONZE MEDAL
12:00 noon - Semi-Final Losers
CHAMPIONSHIP
6:00 pm - Semi-Final Winners
WOMEN'S DRAW
Friday, October 1, 2004
SEMI-FINALS
10:00 am - #1 Toronto vs. #4 Western
1:00 pm - #2 York vs. #3 McGill
Saturday, October 2, 2004
BRONZE MEDAL
9:00 am - Semi-Final Losers
CHAMPIONSHIP
3:00 pm - Semi-Final Winners
On the men's side, the Mustangs finished with a perfect 5-0 regular season record and will look to close out their perfect season on home soil. The two-time defending champions are led by fourth-year London native, Rob Schmidt. Schmidt, who claimed the OUA individual championship twice before it was removed from the competitive structure two years ago, has dropped only one match all season. Other key Mustangs include a former Davis Cup player for Canada in Andrew Nisker, and Dean Zimmerman, a 35-year-old student-athlete who held several number one rankings in Canada as a teenager.
"By far this is the strongest team I have ever coached;" Mustang Head Coach Anthony Glavanic has stated, "winning would be the only acceptable result."
McMaster, York and Brock all finished tied for second place. Using the tie-breaking rules of points earned in head-to-head fixtures, the Marauders took second place, while the Lions and Brock finished third and fourth respectively.
In a rematch of last year's gold medal match, the #1 Western Mustangs will face the #4 Brock Badgers in the first semi-final. The St. Catharines school won their first ever OUA tennis medal last season and will try to build upon that to overcome the two-time defending champions.
In the other semi-final, #2 McMaster Marauders may have their hands full with #3 York Lions. Despite losing out on the tie-breaker, the Lions did defeated McMaster 4-3 in the regular season. York also has giant killer, Ash Misquith (Edmonton, AB), a second-year Physics major, who knocked off Western standout Rob Schmidt last weekend in Toronto 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
In women's action, the #1 University of Toronto Varsity Blues head into the weekend with a perfect 6-0 regular season record. Laura Ozolins and Isabel Jarosz have led the way for Toronto, both going undefeated all season in singles and doubles play. Early in the season, the Blues became the first team in three years to defeat three-time defending OUA Champion York University Lions.
York, McGill and the host for this year's championship Western, all finished tied for second with 4-2 records. Head-to-head points earned in the fixtures broke the three-way tie, which saw York finish second overall, McGill third and the Mustangs fourth.
Toronto will face Western in the first semi-final. The Blues edged the Mustang 4-3 last weekend.
Despite losing only one key player from last season, the three-time defending champion Lions have struggled in 2004. On top of the loss to Toronto, York dropped a second game this season to McGill, their semi-final opponent. Veterans Kim Chu and Natasha Kimberg will look to keep the York streak alive and lead the team to an unprecedented fourth women's banner.
The action starts on Friday and continues with bronze and gold medal matches Saturday at Western Tennis Centre.
League all-stars will also be announced this weekend.
MEN'S DRAW
Friday, October 1, 2004
SEMI-FINALS
4:00 pm - #2 McMaster vs. #3 York
7:00 pm - #1 Western vs. #4 Brock
Saturday, October 2, 2004
BRONZE MEDAL
12:00 noon - Semi-Final Losers
CHAMPIONSHIP
6:00 pm - Semi-Final Winners
WOMEN'S DRAW
Friday, October 1, 2004
SEMI-FINALS
10:00 am - #1 Toronto vs. #4 Western
1:00 pm - #2 York vs. #3 McGill
Saturday, October 2, 2004
BRONZE MEDAL
9:00 am - Semi-Final Losers
CHAMPIONSHIP
3:00 pm - Semi-Final Winners
