Tournament play lends itself to upsets, but the Big East men's tennis tournament in Tampa, Fla., over the weekend went almost according to seeds. Top-seeded Notre Dame clinched its sixth Big East title without losing a point, and sixth-seeded Marquette was doomed to the consolation bracket after falling in the quarterfinals.
Marquette salvaged a fifth-place finish, however, by winning its last two games, which gives the squad momentum entering a promising 2007-'08 season.
The Golden Eagles lost 4-0 to third-seeded South Florida Friday but picked themselves up to defeat Georgetown Saturday to set up a rematch with DePaul, which had defeated Marquette 4-3 earlier this season.
"We lost to a very talented USF team, and I was proud of the guys because it's not easy after you lost a match to come back and be excited to play," head coach Steve Rodecap said.
Against DePaul, Marquette took the doubles point before losing the first three singles points. After junior Brett Binkley won in straight sets it came down to junior Greg Sirotek and freshman Niko Boulieris at No. 5 and No. 6.
Boulieris tied the score and Sirotek closed out the match by defeating DePaul's Dan Wilson 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
The Golden Eagles finished the season 14-8, and the future looks bright with only one senior, Tomek Czernuszewicz, graduating from the program.
"Our team is only gonna get better next year, even though we're losing some character in the locker room in Tomek," freshman Mark Rutherford said.
Rodecap added: "Our juniors take this program very seriously and want to see it taken to a very high level next year."
For Boulieris, the guidance of his older teammates has been a valuable experience.
"This year was a solid experience for Mark and I," Boulieris said. "We have a team full of leaders, they took us under their wing and I feel like we took a lot away from this tournament."
Each of Marquette's starters will return next year.
"One thing I'd say about this team is that they're very close and play extremely well together," Rodecap said.
"This year was a jump, but next year's gonna be another level," Rutherford said.