Any team not named Columbus State is going to have to wait another year for their chance to be named the ITA Division II Men’s National Team Indoor Champions. The Cougars continued to make championship history winning back-to-back titles — making them the only team ever to win the DII Men’s Indoors national championship.
The No. 1 ranked Cougars met the No. 10 ranked Greyhounds in the final match of the championship at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center.
The two teams came ready to play — evident in the competitive doubles point. Aside from CSU’s tandem of Garay and Steen, the teams were locked in a tight battle. Garay and Steen would finish first on court two, but Indy would answer with a win of their own on court one. Ultimately, the coveted point came down to Schold/Martinetti and Franca/Talimaa. After tying at four-all and six-all, the duos entered a tiebreak. The Cougars scratched their way out with a win and the doubles point.
In singles, the advantage went to the Cougars. Led by a strong first set showing from Regalado on court one, they took four of the six first sets. Regalado continued to lead the way for his teammates. He finished first defeating Lima 6-1, 6-2 to tack on another point for his team.
With Regalado rolling on court one, three Greyhounds were holding their own. Talimaa and Zeuch were the two Indy student-athletes that took their first sets. At the time of clinch, Zeuch was narrowing in on a win of his own over Garay. Despite dropping his first set, Viel roared back in the second with a 6-1 set to keep the Cougars off the board.
However despite the best efforts of the Greyhounds, the Cougars could not be denied their second Indoors championship in as many years. Finishing one after each other, Schold and Martinetti added the final two points for the Cougars. The freshman – who clinched the semifinal match for CSU – put together a perfect second set, not allowing Gerweck a single game.
The win brings Columbus State’s win streak to five straight on the year. In their two Indoor Championship appearances, the Cougars have not allowed a single opponent to score a point through six straight victories.
Read how the Cougars reached the championship!
