The No. 1 doubles combo of Robert Butts (pictured) and McKenzie Bean defeated Shaw's No. 1 duo for the lone JCSU match point in the semifinals
Ettrick, VA – The Johnson C. Smith University men's tennis team lost a 5-1 decision to Shaw University in the semifinals of the 2011 CIAA Championships on Saturday morning at the VSU Tennis Complex. JCSU finishes the season at 7-20 overall and 5-8 in the CIAA.
The Golden Bulls entered the matchup as a heavy underdog to the six-time defending champion, Shaw. J.C. Smith was the only team in the tournament to break the seeding, challenging the No. 1 seed as a fifth seed. With only four healthy, competing student-athletes, the Bears automatic held a 3-0 advantage.
JCSU forfeited the No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. Senior
Jerald Stuckey (Cincinnati, OH) was ailing from a leg injury and lost at the No. 5 singles position by walkover.
All-CIAA senior
Jamil Jones (Atlanta, GA) and freshman
Dion Chever (Newport News, VA) suffered an 8-1 loss to Kalada Kienka and Daniel Vasquez at the No. 2 doubles position. Shaw had a chance to secure the match with a victory at the No. 1 doubles position.
Top doubles pair of All-CIAA junior
Robert Butts (Atlanta, GA) and junior
McKenzie Bean (Hamilton, Bermuda) were 0-2 in the regular season against Ataide Suca and Gabriel Nicotra. However, Butts and Bean rose to the challenge and defeated Suca and Nicotra 9-7 to leave the door open for a comeback.
Unfortunately, Suca blanked Chever (6-0, 6-0) in No. 4 singles to account for Shaw's fifth team point and the victory.
Shaw advances to the finals to face Winston-Salem State University for the 2011 CIAA Men's Tennis Championship. Match play is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the VSU Tennis Courts.
Dion Chever and
Robert Butts will be returning to the roster next season to help structure the program.
