Chapman Breezes Into NCAA Tennis Final

Chapman College is favored to win its second NCAA Division II men’s tennis title when it meets Hampton in a 1:30 p.m. match today at Cal State Northridge.

“It will take a complete breakdown in the singles for Chapman to lose,” said Tony Davila, Northridge coach. “And their doubles are as strong, if not stronger.”

Chapman, the nation’s top-ranked Division II team, didn’t get a chance to show its doubles proficiency in a 6-0 semifinal victory over Cal State Hayward Tuesday. The three doubles matches were canceled once Chapman (21-11) had secured a berth in the final, where it will face second-ranked Hampton (28-3), a 5-4 winner over Rollins.

The two finalists last met in the 1985 championship match which Chapman won, 5-4. The Panthers finished second to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in last season’s final.

“We are stronger than we were two years ago,” said Robert Martin Screen, Hampton coach. “But they are just as strong. If we play even at No. 1 and 2 (singles), we’ll have an excellent chance to win.”

Chapman is led by Miles Walker (25-7), who last season won the state community college singles title, and is ranked second in the nation. Walker defeated third-ranked Mauricio Anchondo, 7-6, 6-2, Tuesday even though he didn’t break Anchondo’s serve until early in the second set.

Walker was joined in straight-set victories by teammates Paul Wekesa, Oliver Amerlinck, Paul Charlesworth, David Seline and Allen Juinio. Walker will meet Hampton’s Rozzell Lightfoot, the nation’s seventh-ranked player, in the No. 1 singles match.