Chapman Reaches Tennis Semifinals

Miles Walker and Paul Wekesa defeated Richard Blond and Richard Robinson, 6-2, 6-0, in No. 1 doubles play to lead Chapman College to a 5-2 quarterfinal victory over Tennessee Martin in the NCAA Division II national tennis championships at Cal State Northridge Monday.

The Panthers, top-seeded in the tournament, had singles victories from Paul Wekesa (6-1, 6-3, over Rogerio Cypriano at No. 2), Olivier Amerlinck (7-6, 6-3, over Richard Robinson at No. 3), Paul Charlesworth (7-6, 6-2, over Brian Burke at No. 4) and Allen Juinio (2-6, 6-1, 6-1, over Walter Zoetl at No. 6).

Freshman Vesa Ponkka defeated Walker, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, at No. 1 singles, and Blond defeated Chapman’s David Seline, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 5.

Chapman (20-11) will meet fourth-seeded Cal State Hayward in today’s semifinal at 1:30. Hayward defeated Cal State Bakersfield, 5-1, Monday. Chapman defeated Bakersfield, 7-2, in a dual match at Orange March 26.