Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

2013 ITA Regional Men's Champs

ERAU Men Sweep ITA Regional Titles

From left to right: Anthony Grasso, Deni Zmak, Simon Felix
Click here for tournament brackets
 
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle men's tennis program continued its dominance in USTA/ITA Regional play with sweeps of the men's singles and doubles titles at the 2013 edition of the event, which concluded Sunday at the Crotty Tennis Complex. Sunday's championships marked the 10th consecutive season that the Embry-Riddle men have won both the doubles and singles regional titles.
 
The first match of the day was a singles battle between the tournament's top seed Deni Zmak and his second-seeded Embry-Riddle teammate Anthony Grasso. Zmak won the match in straight sets, topping Grasso 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the USTA/ITA National Small College singles championship.
 
An hour after the conclusion of his singles contest, Zmak took the court again, this time in tandem with Simon Felix in the doubles title match. Seeded No. 1 in the doubles bracket, Zmak and Felix took on Warner's Patrick Frandji and Julian Ramirez Luna who were the tournament's No. 2 seed. The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Warner came back to close the gap to 3-2. Each team held on their subsequent service games, but the Eagles took the last two games to win the set 6-4. Felix and Zmak then bested the Warner pair 6-2 in the second frame to take the regional crown.
 
Zmak, currently in his sophomore season is making his first trip to the USTA/ITA National Small College Championship, while Felix is making his third trip to the doubles portion of the event after finishing as the national runner-up with Patrick Besch in 2012.

The USTA/ITA National Small College Championships, held October 10-13 at the Three Oaks Tennis Center in Fort Myers, Florida. The USTA/ITA National Small College Championships are comprised of the eight regional champions (and/or at-large selections) from NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community Colleges.

The USTA/ITA National Small College Championship is the only national championship event for singles and doubles at the NCAA Division II and NAIA levels. It is also the only tournament that combines all levels of Junior/Community College (NJCAA Divisions I and III and the California division). The singles and doubles champions at each divisional level will then compete to become the overall "Super Bowl" champions. The "Super Bowl" champions earn wild cards into the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships with the opportunity to win the culminating event held at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. 
 
 
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