Feb. 10, 2002
Louisville, Ky. - Second-ranked Stanford University (5-0) won the prestigious USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships with a thrilling 4-3 victory over sixth-ranked Illinois (6-1) on Sunday afternoon at the Louisville Tennis Club.
Stanford's title was its 12th in the 28-year history of the event, and third in the last five years. The Cardinal's 12 titles is the most in tournament history, while UCLA is second with seven. The victory makes Stanford 12-4 all-time in championship matches at the National Team Indoors. The Cardinal advanced to the final with wins over No. 52 San Diego State (4-0), No. 9 Duke (4-1) and No. 12 USC (4-2).
The Cardinal victory also kept alive the state of California's dominance in this event. A California school has now walked home with the National Team Indoor Championship for 19 consecutive years.
Sunday's final came down to a thrilling three set match at No. 1 singles.
Cardinal senior K.J. Hippensteel (Roanoke, VA/International Academy), who is the top-ranked player in the country, broke a 3-3 tie and clinched the tournament title with a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (1), 6-2 victory over ninth-ranked Amer Delic. Hippensteel, who also defeated Delic 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals of the ITA All-American Championships on Oct. 13, was 3-0 in the tournament and is now 10-0 on the season.
Stanford also received singles wins from juniors Ryan Haviland (Aiken, SC/Sumter HS) and David Martin (Tulsa, OK/Boca Raton Prep). The 49th-ranked Martin upset 23rd-ranked Phil Stolt 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) at No. 3, while 43rd-ranked Haviland breezed by Michael Calkins 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4. Martin, who also won the tournament's sportsmanship award, finished the event a perfect 4-0 in singles.
The Cardinal also captured the doubles point by winning at Nos. 1 and 2 by identical 8-4 scores. Third-ranked Scott Lipsky (Merrick, NY/Bellmore-Kennedy HS) and Martin posted the win at No. 1, while seventh-ranked Haviland and Hippensteel prevailed at No. 2. Stanford won the doubles point in three of its four National Team Indoor victories.
This tournament, which dates back to 1973, helps kick off the collegiate tennis season and serves as an early preview for the season-ending NCAA Championships in May. The tournament is sponsored by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) and administered by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
Stanford returns home to the Taube Tennis Center on Saturday, Feb. 16 to host No. 42 Fresno State (0-2) at noon.
#2 Stanford 4, #6 Illinois 3
Doubles (Stanford wins point)
No. 1 - #3 Scott Lipsky/David Martin (S) d. #12 Michael Calkins/Amer Delic, 8-4
No. 2 - #7 Ryan Haviland/K.J. Hippensteel (S) d. Jamal Parker/Brian Wilson, 8-4
No. 3 - Mike Kosta/Nathan Zeder (I) d. Phil Sheng/Sam Warburg, 8-5
Singles
No. 1 - #1 K.J. Hippensteel (S) d. #9 Amer Delic, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (1), 6-2
No. 2 - #77 Brian Wilson (I) d. #31 Scott Lipsky, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-2
No. 3 - #49 David Martin (S) d. #23 Phil Stolt, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1)
No. 4 - #43 Ryan Haviland (S) d. Michael Calkins, 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 - Mike Kosta (I) d. Phil Sheng, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 - Nathan Zeder (I) d. Sam Warburg, 7-6 (5), 7-5
Records - #6 Illinois 6-1, #2 Stanford 5-0.