NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships : Top UCLA Player Injured; Georgia Wins Title, 5-1

Georgia capitalized on an injury to UCLA’s top player, Dan Nahirney, Tuesday to win its second National Collegiate Athletic Assn. men’s team tennis championship in three years.

“Winning this championship is a different type feeling from the title in 1985,” which Georgia won by the same 5-1 score against the same team, said Coach Dan Magill. “We thought we could win it in ‘85, but this year I had hoped we would just have a good enough team to be seeded in the tournament.”

Nahirney was leading Philip Johnson, 6-4, 2-1, when he apparently tore ligaments in his right knee and had to retire.

With Nahirney’s retirement, Georgia won with five victories in the six singles matches. The three doubles matches were canceled.

In the other singles matches, Georgia’s Stephen Enochs defeated Buff Farrow, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2; Georgia’s John Boytim beat Tim Trigueiro, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6; Georgia’s Trey Carter defeated Brett Greenwood, 7-6, 7-5; UCLA’s Patrick Galbraith beat Mike Morrison, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, and Georgia’s P.J. Middleton downed Bryan Garrow, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

UCLA was shooting for its 16th team championship; its 15 titles already are more than any other school. And the Bruins, which last won in 1984 over Stanford, have won three titles since the new format was adopted in 1977.

“We’re very pleased,” Magill said. “I think the boys in the red and black are the greatest competitors we’ve ever had.

“I want to congratulate (UCLA) Coach (Glenn) Bassett and his fine team. They have a young squad and will certainly be in contention next year. We’re also very sorry for Dan Nahirney and hope he’ll return to competition very soon.”

Bassett: “I felt like we were in the match, and then at times we were out of it. We peaked at the right time, and I’m very, very proud of this team. We came here in good shape, and I really thought we’d win. I thought we had a national championship team right to the very end.”

Bassett said he thought Nahirney’s injury affected the other players.

“One moment he’s winning his match, and the next moment we’re a point down. His injury did take the wind out of our sails, but I felt like we were able to get back into it,” Bassett said.

“Georgia was just too tough today, and played real well. Coach Magill did another fine job.”