OVERLAND PARK, KS – On what was yet another day of fiery competition from the Overland Park Racquet Club, it was Georgia Gwinnett and Keiser advancing to the Finals of the 2023 ITA NAIA National Team Indoor Championships on both the men’s and women’s sides of play.
Beginning with the women’s semifinals, Georgia Gwinnett (1) took on SCAD Savannah (5) in the morning match while Keiser (2) faced off with LSU Alexandria (3) in the afternoon match.
The top seeds, Georgia Gwinnett, looked dominant once again today, winning the doubles point from straight set wins on courts two and three. In singles, the Grizzlies captured all of the momentum from doubles play, rolling on courts four, five, and six to clinch the match and their spot into the finals.
Winners of their last 63 matches, Georgia Gwinnett will look to continue their streak of dominance of Friday when they look to take home the inaugural ITA NAIA Women’s National Team Indoor Championship.
In the other women’s semifinal match, Keiser was in control of every area of the match, taking the doubles points with wins on courts two and three before moving into singles play where they won in straight sets on courts one, two, and five.
For the Seahawks, this will be the seventh straight National Championship match in which they have ffaced off with Georgia Gwinnett. The Grizzlies have won each of the last six meetings in the NAIA National Championship, but Keiser will definitely be looking to turn the tides tomorrow.
In the men’s matches, Georgia Gwinnett (1) squared off with Tennessee Wesleyan (4) in the evening match while Keiser (2) took on Northwestern Ohio (6) in the early afternoon match.
First for the Seahawks of Keiser, it was a back-and-forth match throughout as Northwestern Ohio took the doubles point from the Seahawks to secure the early lead. However, Keiser showed why they have been so dominant over these past few years, winning on courts three, four, five, and six in singles to clinch the match.
As champions of the Sun Conference for six consecutive years, Keiser will be looking to add a National Title to their program accolades when they play for the championship tomorrow.
In the final match of the day, Georgia Gwinnett looked extremely impressive earning a 4-1 win over Tennessee Wesleyan. After earning a highly-contested doubles point, the Grizzlies pushed thorough in singles play winning courts four, five, and six to clinch the match.
Now having won 173 consecutive matches, Georgia Gwinnett will looko to extend their program prestige tomorrow when they battle it out with Keiser for the inaugural ITA NAIA Men’s National Team Indoor Championship.
The fifth and seventh place matches will be the first on the court at the Overland Racquet Club on Sunday. For the women, the championship match will begin at 3 pm (CST), while the men’s championship match will start at 6:30 pm (CST).
Women’s Main Draw Match Results
- Georgia Gwinnett (1) def SCAD Savannah (5), 4-0
- Keiser (2) def LSU Alexandria (3), 4-0
Women’s Back Draw Match Results
- Indiana Wesleyan (4) def Kansas Wesleyan (8), 4-0
- Xavier (La.) (6) def Lindsey Wilson (7), 4-2
Men’s Main Draw Match Results
- Georgia Gwinnett (1) def Tennessee Wesleyan (4), 4-1
- Keiser (2) def Northwestern Ohio (6), 4-2
Men’s Back Draw Match Results
- Xavier (La.) (4) def Kansas Wesleyan (8), 4-0
- Lindsey Wilson (7) def Indiana Wesleyan (3), 4-2
