[Tennis] SDC Men's and Women's Tennis Claim ITA Regional Championships

RAMONA, Calif. – The SDC men's and women's tennis teams won some hardware over the weekend in the ITA West Regional Tennis Tournament hosted by SDC.

Nick Nienhaus swept the men's awards by winning the men's singles and men's doubles with Chris Papa. On the women's side, Sarah Urbanek and Nadine Geschke won doubles. All four are guaranteed to go to the ITA National Tournament in Rome, Georgia on Oct. 16-20.

In the men's singles draw, Nienhaus, the No. 2 seed, cruised to the finals and competed against No. 1 seed and doubles partner Papa. Nienhaus defeated Papa 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 in the only 3-set match by the two in the tournament.

In the men's doubles tournament, No. 1 seeded Papa and Nienhaus blanked their first two opponents 8-0. In the finals, they defeated Arizona Christian's doubles team and the No. 2 seed in the tournament 6-2, 6-1.

Urbanek and Geschke won their second-straight regional doubles final by a score of 6-0, 6-3. During singles play, No. 1 seeded Urbanek was looking to make it to the finals before she had to retire in the semifinal match against fellow teammate and No. 4 seed Angela Rinaldi. Rinaldi was leading 6-1, 1-0 before Urbanek retired. In the championship match, Rinaldi dropped the match 6-2, 6-1 against No. 3 seed Erin Wilson.

Rinaldi and other SDC teammates who played in the regional tournament still have a shot at an at-large bid into the national tournament.