Chapman Rallies, Again Gains Division II Men’s Tennis Final

Chapman College reached the NCAA Division II men’s tennis final for the fourth consecutive year with a 5-3 semifinal victory over Rollins College Tuesday at Sonoma State University.

Today at 1:30 p.m., the Panthers (19-12) will play for their third national championship in the past four seasons when they face top-ranked Hampton Institute (29-0), a 5-3 semifinal winner over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Chapman defeated Hampton in the 1985 and 1987 finals.

In Tuesday’s semifinal, the Panthers trailed, 3-1, and were at match point in two sets. However, Miles Walker and Paul Charlesworth came back to post three-set victories and tie the match at 3-3 heading into doubles play.

Walker, the top-ranked player in Division II, won, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, and Charlesworth scored a 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory.

Dave Seline picked up the Panthers’ other singles victory, 6-2, 6-1.

In doubles competition, Walker and Olivier Amerlinck won, 6-4, 6-4, and Dave Seline and Allen Juinio won, 0-6, 6-4, 6-2, to put the Panthers into the final.