Prairie State repeats as DI Region champs, Illinois Valley outduels Elgin in DIII

UPDATE: Prairie State College tallied 18 points and finished tied for tenth at the 2019 NJCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships, while Moraine Valley Community College wound up 26th with zero points. Panash Garah led the Pioneers by reaching the quarterfinals in the Singles Flight #6 bracket, while four others made it to Round Two. Garah and Natnael Zegdeta made the quarterfinals in the Doubles Flight #3 bracket, as well. 

Illinois Valley Community College was held without a team point and finished seventh at the 2019 NJCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championships. 

PALOS HILLS, ILL. - Neither came with much drama as Prairie State College and Illinois Valley Community College were able to claim 2019 Region IV Men's Tennis Championships in Division I and Division III, respectively, on April 27.

The Pioneers swept all six singles flights and all three doubles flights en route to claiming their second consecutive crown with 27 team points, finishing 11.5 points ahead of second place College of Lake County at 15.5 points. Moraine Valley Community College was third at 11 points.

Prairie State College sophomore Jofre Tura was named Region IV Most Valuable Player after defeating MVCC's Nick Karczynski by a 6-1, 6-2 tally in the Singles Flight #1 Championship. The native of Barcelona, Spain, teamed up with freshman Marek Slojewski to win the Doubles Flight #1 Championship by a 6-1, 6-2 final over the tandem from College of Lake County. Brian Johnson of Prairie State College was named the Region IV Coach of the Year. Prairie State College and Moraine Valley Community College will both represent the region at the 2019 NJCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships at the Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson, Arizona, from May 13-17.

2019 Region IV Division I Men's Tennis Final Results (pdf)

The Eagles took home titles in five of the six contested flights, including three singles and both doubles to secure a 5-1 win over Elgin Community College. Freshman Justin Ainsley earned Region IV Most Valuable Player after taking the Singles Flight #1 Championship over Patrick Vonghakdy with a 6-0, 6-0 score, and then joined forces with fellow first year Nolan Frank to pick up a 6-2, 6-1 victory in the Doubles Flight #1 Championship. Julie Milota took home Region IV Coach of the Year accolades. IVCC will represent the region at the 2019 NJCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championships at the Peachtree City Tennis Center in Peachtree City, Georgia, from May 10-12.

2019 Region IV Division III Men's Tennis Final Results (pdf)