Hope International Men's Tennis Wins National Championship

FULLERTON, Calif., May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hope International Men's Tennis Team won the 2008 NCCAA National Tournament with a 5-2 win over Dallas Baptist on Thursday morning in Marion, Indiana. Four Royals were named NCCAA All-Americans -- Rajko Mladenovic and Marko Kustudija in singles along with Felix Haufe and Johan Weich for their doubles play. Coach Nelson Cook was also named the NCCAA Men's Tennis Coach of the Year.

The Royals, making their first trip to the National Tennis Tournament, drew Dallas Baptist, Indiana Wesleyan, and Spring Arbor in pool play. On Tuesday morning (at 6:00 am PST), the Royals opened with Dallas Baptist and beat them 5-1 (tournament matches are played as first to 5 points wins). They finished up play on Tuesday by defeating Indiana Wesleyan 5-1.

On Wednesday, they defeated Spring Arbor 5-3 to finish pool play 3-0 and qualify for the Semi-Finals. Awaiting them in the Semi-Finals was six time defending NCCAA Champion North Greenville from South Carolina. The Royals knocked off the Crusaders 5-2.

In the other Semi-Final, Dallas Baptist defeated Olivet Nazarene 5-1. That set up a second meeting at the tournament and third of the year between the Royals and Patriots for all the marbles on Thursday.

In the Finals, the first for both teams, the Royals battled through a few injuries but prevailed 5-2.

The 2008 NCCAA Men's Tennis National Champions finished their year with a program high of 16 wins.

Founded in 1928, Hope International University is a regionally accredited private Christian University comprised of three schools: Pacific Christian College, the School of Graduate Studies, and the School of Professional Studies. The University provides students with a leadership and ethics focused liberal arts education through undergraduate and graduate programs in business, education, ministry, music, psychology and counseling, human development and other social sciences. Total University enrollment is approximately 1700 students representing 35 states and 40 countries.

To learn more, please visit the Hope International University website at http://www.hiu.edu/.

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FCMN Contact:

Source: Hope International University

CONTACT: Mr. David Poole of Hope International University,
+1-714-879-3901 x-2401

Web Site: http://www.hiu.edu/

2008-05-08 20:05:13 0357315 PRNEWSWIRE