By Sarah Houseknecht, special to USTA.com
CARY, N.C. -- Holding off a furious rally by new National Runner-up
Virginia, the
University of California-Berkeley claimed the 2012 USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship in overtime, 25-23. For the Golden Bears, it is the second time in school history that they've snared the program's top prize - they also swept the tournament's Gold bracket in 2010.
Here are a few other storylines from a busy final day at the Cary Tennis Park:
West Coast Commands
The honor of being the nation's top club team remains with a California school for the third straight year, with Cal victories in 2010 and 2012 sandwiching last year's dominant University of California-Los Angeles team.
The 2012 tournament's semifinalists also consisted of three out of four California clubs (Cal, University of Southern California & Cal Poly San Luis Obispo).
Silver, Bronze and Copper
Winners in the Silver, Bronze and Copper brackets were local favorite
University North Carolina at Chapel Hill (30-14 over
Boston College),
University of Alabama (22-21 over
Baylor University) and
Purdue University (26-13 over
William & Mary). Each team was honored for their victory during the event's closing ceremonies.
Crimson Tide's McNerney Cuts Hair for Cause
University of Alabama freshman Graham McNerney has sported long blonde locks of hair for years – not in defiance of his parents or to join a rock band. Growing his hair had special meaning for McNerney.
Shorthanded Cougars Thankful for First TOC Nationals Berth
When
Washington State University got the opportunity to make the cross-country trip to Cary, N.C. for USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship, they vowed that they wouldn’t pass it up. For the first time, the Cougars were in the hunt for a national title.
TOC Nationals Participants Support the Troops with USTA Military Outreach
A point of traffic at a bustling Cary Tennis Park on Saturday during the USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship was the
USTA Military Outreach tent, with the aim of those visiting being to support active U.S. troops and military veterans.
Greenwood Gives Virginia Experience Edge in Title Bout
After leading the
Texas Longhorns to a Tennis On Campus National Championship in 2008, graduate student John Greenwood hoped to do the same with the University of Virginia.
Hawkeyes Go Green
Kyle Nicholson, a freshman on the
University of Iowa club tennis team, is all about the fuel-efficient Toyota Prius – so much so that he and his Hawkeye teammates packed their suitcases and racquet bags up and insisted on driving 1,000 miles to the 2012 Tennis On Campus National Championship.
Championship Breakdown:
Cal-Berkeley won women’s doubles 6-4
Cal-Berkeley won men’s singles 6-3
Cal-Berkeley won men’s doubles 6-4
UVA won women’s singles 6-2
UVA won mixed doubles 6-4, yet lost the match in overtime on a double fault
Final score: Cal-Berkeley 25, UVA 23