May 30, 1999
ATHENS, Ga. - Senior captain Ryan Wolters and freshman K.J. Hippensteelbecame Stanford's second-straight NCAA Doubles Champions and the 13th inschool history as the duo convincingly defeated Nenad Toroman and GarethWilliams of Tulsa, 6-3, 6-2. This was the first final since 1988 that twounseeded teams advanced to the final. Wolters and Hippensteel are rankedeighth in the country.
"I'm really surprised right now because we've never been able to put a goodweek of doubles together. We'd always have spurts where I saw how good wecould be. Today, K.J. kept fighting and picked me up when I started alittle flat. It was great to come out here and put together a good week oftennis. It's nice to leave here with a title, although our first prioritywas the team title," said Wolters.
With today's win Stanford avoided going home from the NCAA Championshipsempty handed. The last time that happened was 1993. The Cardinal has wonat least a team, singles or doubles title for five straight years.Additionally, the Cardinal has had a team, singles or doublesrepresentative in a final every year since 1988.
"It feels real good to win the tournament so convincingly. It shows howgood a team we (Stanford) can be," said Hippensteel.
In the NCAA Doubles Tournament, Wolters and Hippensteel lost just one set,which came in the first round, and managed to give up just 18 games in thelast four matches. In the semifinals and finals, the pair only lost eightgames.
NCAA Men's Tennis Championships
Athens, Georgia
Doubles Final
Ryan Wolters/K.J. Hippensteel (Stanford) d. Nenad Toroman/Gareth Williams(Tulsa) 6-3, 6-2