April 26, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' men's and women's tennis teams claim the American Southwest Conference titles Saturday at Streich Tennis Center. The Cowboys won 4-2 over Mississippi College while the Cowgirls defeated MC 5-4 in finals action. Cowboy David Wu was honored as the ASC Men's Tennis Tournament Most Valuable Player while Cowgirl Bobbye Thompson was named the ASC Women's Tennis Tournament Most Valuable Player.

In women's singles action, the Cowgirls split matches with the Lady Choctaws. Hardin-Simmons won three of the six matches played. Bobbye Thompson, McKenzie Swindle and Allison Baker won their matches for HSU while Lauren Bicker, Ashley Diaz and Diane Swalm won their singles matches for Mississippi College. Swindle and Baker won their mtaches in two sets.

In women's doubles action, Hardin-Simmons took two of the three matches played. The Cowgirl team of Thompson/Swindle defeated Fountain/Diaz, 8-2 while HSU's Haynes/Hanes defeated Adams/Randle, 8-4. MC's team of Bicker/Swalm defeated Chandler/Baker, 8-5.

Cowgirl Bobby Thompson from Burleson was named ASC Women's Tennis Tournament MVP. Thompson won all of her matches at the tournament this weekend.

Hardin-Simmons women's tennis team closes out the year as three-peat ASC Champions with an overall record of 14-5 and 9-0 in ASC action. Mississippi College women's tennis team finished out the year with an 16-3 overall record and 6-1 in ASC play.

In men's singles action, Hardin-Simmons took four of the six matches played. Mitch Aston, Brad Grace, David Wu and Bryce Hicks won their matches for HSU while Thomas Blalock and Adam Caldwell won their singles matches for MC. Aston defeated Drew Brooks, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; Grace defeated Ryan Seaton, 7-6, 6-2; Wu defeated Jason Smith, 6-2, 6-2 and Hicks defeated Trey Griffith, 7-6, 5-2. Blalock defeated Mark Plowman, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and Caldwell defeated Justin Narvid, 6-3, 6-3.

In men's doubles action, the Cowboys won two of the three matches played. HSU's Grace/Wu defeated Griffith/Seaton, 8-1 and the Cowboy team of Narvid/Hicks defeated Caldwell/Chris Tallarico, 8-3. MC's Brooks/Blalock defeated Aston/Plowman, 8-6.

Hardin-Simmons' own freshman David Wu from Abilene was honored as the ASC Men's Tennis Tournament MVP. Wu won both of his singles and doubles matches this weekend at the ASC Tournament and has not lost a conference team match this year. "I am excited and surprised about this honor," said Wu. "There are so many guys on this team who worked hard this year to make the team great, so I want to thank them all."

Hardin-Simmons men's tennis team finishes an incredible year out as back-to-back ASC Champions with an overall record of 14-4 and 9-0 in ASC action while the Mississippi College Choctaws men's tennis team also finished the year out with an overall record of 14-4 and an ASC record of 5-1.

-- HSU ATHLETICS ---

Results To Follow

Women's Finals

Hardin-Simmons 4 - Mississippi College 5

Singles

1 - Lauren Bicker (MC) def. Nancy Chandler (HSU), 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

2 - Bobbye Thompson (HSU) def. Katherine Fountain (MC), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

3 - Ashley Diaz (MC) def. Stephanie Haynes (HSU), 7-6, 1-6, 6-2

4 - Diane Swalm (MC) def. Candace Hanes (HSU), 7-5. 4-6, 6-4

5 - McKenzie Swindle (HSU) def. Holli Adams (MC), 6-3, 6-2

6 - Allison Baker (HSU) def. Shannon Randle (MC), 6-4, 6-1

Doubles

1 - Bicker/Swalm (MC) def. Chandler/Baker (HSU), 8-5

2 - Thompson/Swindle (HSU) def. Fountain/Diaz (MC), 8-2

3 - Haynes/Hanes (HSU) def. Adams/Randle (MC) 8-4

Men's Finals

Hardin-Simmons 4 - Mississippi College 2

Singles

1 - Mitch Aston (HSU) def. Drew Brooks (MC), 6-2, 4-6, 6-1

2 - Thomas Blalock (MC) def. Mark Plowman (HSU), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

3 - Brad Grace (HSU) def. Ryan Seaton (MC), 7-6, 6-2

4 - David Wu (HSU) def. Jason Smith (MC), 6-2, 6-2

5 - Adam Caldwell (MC) def. Justin Narvid (HSU), 6-3, 6-3

6 - Bryce Hicks (HSU) def. Trey Griffith (MC), 7-6, 5-2

Doubles

1 - Brooks/Blalock (MC) def. Aston/Plowman (HSU), 8-6

2 - Grace/Wu (HSU) def. Griffith/Seaton (MC), 8-1

3 - Narvid/Hicks (HSU) def. Caldwell/Chris Tallarico (MC), 8-3