St. John's University Athletics
Monday, April 26
Cayce, S.C (Cayce Tennis Center)
1 p.m.
St. John's University
3
vs
4
No. 1 DePaul (Finals)
DePaul Edges St. John’s, 4-3, to Capture BIG EAST Crown
4/26/2021 6:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Blue Demons pick up decisive point on the No. 5 court to win their first conference title
CAYCE, S.C. – No. 1 DePaul edged No. 2 St. John's, 4-3, on Monday afternoon to capture the BIG EAST Championship in an epic match that came down to a third set on the No. 5 court.
The Red Storm (16-2, 3-1 BIG EAST) and Blue Demons (14-6, 3-1 BIG EAST) battled to a 3-3 tie before Luuk Wassenaar edged Evan Felcher in a championship-deciding third set, 7-5, to bring the BIG EAST crown back to DePaul for the first time in program history.
Despite the loss, the Johnnies made things tough on the No. 1 seeded Blue Demons all afternoon in a duel between the two programs that lasted well over three hours. Despite dropping the doubles point and falling behind, 2-0, the Red Storm took three of the next four singles contests to tie things up at three apiece. St. John's three singles victories came from Ignacio Garcia, Louis-nils Michel and Giuseppe De Camelis.
In doubles play, De Camelis and Michel fell in their match on the No. 3 court, 6-2, as DePaul grabbed the first point. Djuro Opacic and Felcher had an answer on the No. 2 court, where they took their match, 6-4. The battle for the opening point in the match came down to the No. 1 position where Boris Spanjaard and Christopher Casati edged Charlie James and Garcia, 7-5, to give the Blue Demons the advantage, 1-0.
The first decision in singles play came on the No. 1 court, where DePaul's Vito Tonjec dropped Opacic in straight sets, 6-0 and 6-1, to give his team the quick 2-0 advantage.
From there, the Red Storm began to close the gap in the match as on the No. 6 court, De Camelis pulled out a decisive victory, winning his bout, 6-3 and 6-3. The sophomore closes the 2020 campaign with an impressive 14-1 record in singles, including three wins in the No. 6 slot at the BIG EAST Tennis Championships. Overall, De Camelis is 27-5 in his collegiate career.
James' match on the No. 3 court was close, but he was edged by Spanjaard twice in tiebreakers, dropping both sets by 7-5 tallies as DePaul grabbed a 3-1 lead in the match.
The next decision came in the No. 4 position where Michel took his match in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-4, to close the gap and cut the Blue Demons lead to 3-2. The victory was the third at the BIG EAST Tennis Championships for the Red Storm senior and brought his record in singles to 11-1 on the season.
Garcia's match on the No. 2 court came down to the wire as after taking the first set, 6-4, Christopher Casati grabbed the second set, 7-5. With the Red Storm's season on the line in the third set, Garcia came away with a dominant third set victory, 6-2, to even the match score at three all. The senior from San Juan, Puerto Rico closed out the 2021 campaign with a perfect 13-0 record in singles.
With the contest knotted at three the focus shifted to the No. 5 court where Felcher and Wassenaar split the first two sets, with the Red Storm junior taking the second. In the third frame, the score was tied at five when Wassenaar grabbed a point to make it 6-5. Felcher was just one point away from forcing a tiebreaker, leading 40-0, before four straight points from the Blue Demons senior sealed the title victory for DePaul. Wassenaar's heroic effort was rewarded as he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the BIG EAST Tennis Championships.
The Blue Demons now advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Red Storm finishes the year at 16-2 overall, a number which includes what was an impressive ten-match winning streak to open the season. The Johnnies had defeated No. 7 Xavier and No. 3 Marquette down in Cayce before falling to DePaul.
Doubles
Boris Spanjaard/Christopher Casati (DPU) def. Charlie James/Ignacio Garcia (SJU) 7-5 145
Djuro Opacic/Evan Felcher (SJU) def. Luuk Wassenaar/Vito Tonejc (DPU) 6-4 143
Fran Tonjec/Tripp Tuff (DPU) def. Giuseppe DeCamelis/Louis-Nils Michel (SJU) 6-2 132
Order: 3, 2, 1
Singles
V. Tonejc (DPU) def. Opacic (SJU) 6-0, 6-1
Garcia (SJU) def. Casati (DPU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
Spanjaard (DPU) def. James (SJU) 7-5, 7-5
Michel (SJU) def. F. Tonejc (DPU) 6-4, 6-4
Wassenaar (DPU) def. Felcher (SJU) 7-5, 2-6, 7-5
DeCamelis (SJU) def. Tuff (DPU) 6-3, 6-2
Order: 1, 6, 3, 4, 2, 5
The Red Storm (16-2, 3-1 BIG EAST) and Blue Demons (14-6, 3-1 BIG EAST) battled to a 3-3 tie before Luuk Wassenaar edged Evan Felcher in a championship-deciding third set, 7-5, to bring the BIG EAST crown back to DePaul for the first time in program history.
Despite the loss, the Johnnies made things tough on the No. 1 seeded Blue Demons all afternoon in a duel between the two programs that lasted well over three hours. Despite dropping the doubles point and falling behind, 2-0, the Red Storm took three of the next four singles contests to tie things up at three apiece. St. John's three singles victories came from Ignacio Garcia, Louis-nils Michel and Giuseppe De Camelis.
In doubles play, De Camelis and Michel fell in their match on the No. 3 court, 6-2, as DePaul grabbed the first point. Djuro Opacic and Felcher had an answer on the No. 2 court, where they took their match, 6-4. The battle for the opening point in the match came down to the No. 1 position where Boris Spanjaard and Christopher Casati edged Charlie James and Garcia, 7-5, to give the Blue Demons the advantage, 1-0.
The first decision in singles play came on the No. 1 court, where DePaul's Vito Tonjec dropped Opacic in straight sets, 6-0 and 6-1, to give his team the quick 2-0 advantage.
From there, the Red Storm began to close the gap in the match as on the No. 6 court, De Camelis pulled out a decisive victory, winning his bout, 6-3 and 6-3. The sophomore closes the 2020 campaign with an impressive 14-1 record in singles, including three wins in the No. 6 slot at the BIG EAST Tennis Championships. Overall, De Camelis is 27-5 in his collegiate career.
James' match on the No. 3 court was close, but he was edged by Spanjaard twice in tiebreakers, dropping both sets by 7-5 tallies as DePaul grabbed a 3-1 lead in the match.
The next decision came in the No. 4 position where Michel took his match in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-4, to close the gap and cut the Blue Demons lead to 3-2. The victory was the third at the BIG EAST Tennis Championships for the Red Storm senior and brought his record in singles to 11-1 on the season.
Garcia's match on the No. 2 court came down to the wire as after taking the first set, 6-4, Christopher Casati grabbed the second set, 7-5. With the Red Storm's season on the line in the third set, Garcia came away with a dominant third set victory, 6-2, to even the match score at three all. The senior from San Juan, Puerto Rico closed out the 2021 campaign with a perfect 13-0 record in singles.
With the contest knotted at three the focus shifted to the No. 5 court where Felcher and Wassenaar split the first two sets, with the Red Storm junior taking the second. In the third frame, the score was tied at five when Wassenaar grabbed a point to make it 6-5. Felcher was just one point away from forcing a tiebreaker, leading 40-0, before four straight points from the Blue Demons senior sealed the title victory for DePaul. Wassenaar's heroic effort was rewarded as he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the BIG EAST Tennis Championships.
The Blue Demons now advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Red Storm finishes the year at 16-2 overall, a number which includes what was an impressive ten-match winning streak to open the season. The Johnnies had defeated No. 7 Xavier and No. 3 Marquette down in Cayce before falling to DePaul.
Doubles
Boris Spanjaard/Christopher Casati (DPU) def. Charlie James/Ignacio Garcia (SJU) 7-5 145
Djuro Opacic/Evan Felcher (SJU) def. Luuk Wassenaar/Vito Tonejc (DPU) 6-4 143
Fran Tonjec/Tripp Tuff (DPU) def. Giuseppe DeCamelis/Louis-Nils Michel (SJU) 6-2 132
Order: 3, 2, 1
Singles
V. Tonejc (DPU) def. Opacic (SJU) 6-0, 6-1
Garcia (SJU) def. Casati (DPU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
Spanjaard (DPU) def. James (SJU) 7-5, 7-5
Michel (SJU) def. F. Tonejc (DPU) 6-4, 6-4
Wassenaar (DPU) def. Felcher (SJU) 7-5, 2-6, 7-5
DeCamelis (SJU) def. Tuff (DPU) 6-3, 6-2
Order: 1, 6, 3, 4, 2, 5
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Men's Tennis NCAA Selection Show
Tuesday, April 30