UC-Berkeley Wins Second Straight USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship

Cary, N.C., April 13, 2015 – The University of California - Berkeley captured the National Championship title at the 2015 USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship, held at Cary Tennis Center in Cary, N.C., April 9 – 11. Berkeley defeated the University of Minnesota, 28-17, in Saturday’s championship match. This marks back-to-back National Championships for the Golden Bears and, with victories in 2010 and 2012, gives them four titles in the past six years.

The two sides traded match wins in the early moments of the contest, with UC Berkeley jumping out to a 6-2 win in men’s doubles before Minnesota countered with a 6-4 victory in men’s singles. In women’s doubles, Berkeley broke a 2-all tie by claiming four consecutive games to widen the lead to 16-10 heading into women’s singles.

Sarah Dessouki, a junior for the Golden Bears and veteran of the 2014 title-winning team, beat fellow junior Kelsey Frechette, 6-3, putting the champs up 22-13. Mixed doubles would provide a sentimental moment for UC Berkeley seniors Laura Posylkin and James Kong, who celebrated a 6-4 triumph in their last match as college players.

“Our team played really well,” said co-captain Joel Garcia. “There were definitely some tense moments. We came out with a really strong doubles match, but the second match got a little tight. We haven’t had a tight match in quite a while, so we got a little tense. I’m proud how the team was so positive and got behind each other.”

“We haven’t had a school go back-to-back in a nearly a decade and the fact that it’s UC Berkeley who accomplished that, you couldn’t ask for a better representative as champion,” said Glenn Arrington, National Director of USTA Tennis On Campus. “They’re loaded with seniors on that club, so experience played a key tonight. It’s probably bittersweet for those graduating players – definitely more on the sweet side, though. There’s no better way to go out.”

The team is coached by Tai Chung and co-captained by Joel Garcia (Sr.) and Diane Ji (Sr.) and includes Kelsey Chong (Fr.), Sarah Dessouki (Jr.), James Kong (Sr.), Riccardo Lemos (Jr.), Ahdiv Nathan (Sr.), Catinca Negru (So.), Laura Posylkin (Sr.) and Manpreet Tiwana (So.).

Earlier on Saturday, the reigning champs handed in-state rival UCLA a 26-18 loss in the national semifinals to put themselves back in the final. Last year in Surprise, Ariz., UC Berkeley beat the Florida Gators, 27-13, for its third crown since 2010. In earning their fourth Tennis On Campus National Championship title in six seasons, the Golden Bears extended their Nationals undefeated streak to 14 matches. The last school to win consecutive national championships was Texas A&M, which enjoyed a four-season title run from 2004 to 2007.

Championship Match: Berkeley d. Minnesota, 28-17

Men’s Doubles: 6-2

Men’s Singles: 4-6

Women’s Doubles: 6-2

Women’s Singles: 6-3

Mixed Doubles: 6-4

The 2015 USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship brought together the top 64 co-ed intramural and sport club tennis teams from across the country. The Championship will return to the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C., April 14-16, 2016.

Note: A match using the World TeamTennis format includes sets of men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles, each game during the match counts as a point towards the overall team score.