Doubles teams shine at ITA West Regionals

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Both tennis teams competed in the ITA West Regional Championships last weekend with Brett Buford and Charlie Werman nearly coming away with a championship. The Panthers highest ranked duo made it all the way to the semifinals of the main draw.

Buford and Werman were the sixth-seeded pair in the tournament but had a rocky start. The Panthers needed a tiebreaker to emerge from their first round matchup with a Cal Lutheran duo but pulled out the 9-8 (7-4) win. The Panthers breezed to an 8-4 win in the round of 16 and pulled out an 8-6 win in the quarterfinals. Buford and Werman ran into the top-ranked doubles team in the semifinals and fell 8-3 to end their run through the main draw.

Werman was also seeded 11th as an individual but suffered a 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 upset in the opening round. He went on to win his next three matches in the back draw in straight sets before withdrawing in the semifinals match.

Andrea Hammer and Nicole Fouts were on hand to represent the women's team and won the consolation double championship. The duo dropped its opening match 8-3 but breezed through the back draw to claim the title. The Panthers won 8-1 in the consolation round of 16 before taking quarterfinals and semifinals by a score of 8-3 and eventually winning the back draw championship.

Individually, Hammer won her opening match 6-1, 6-0 but fell in the round of 32.

Buford, junior Sam Mitteldorf and newcomer Igor da Silva each won their respective opening round matches in the singles bracket but fell in the round of 32. Buford captured a three-set win in the back draw before he was edged in three set in the back draw quarterfinals.

Both teams return to the court this spring for their respective team dual seasons.