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The No. 1 USC Men's Tennis program reached unprecedented history winning their fifth national championship in the past six seasons by defeating No. 2 Oklahoma, 4-2, in the 2014 NCAA National Championship Match.
#WhoWillBe100? @USCMensTennis! #FightOn pic.twitter.com/vFtRqDwbwr
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) May 21, 2014
In posting a 32-3 overall record in 2014, USC has now won five NCAA Championships at Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The last was in 2012, when Yannick Hanfmann clinched a fourth consecutive national championship for the Trojan cause. This time around, Hanfmann was the No. 1 singles player both for USC and in the NCAA Tournament.
Such an honor to be at @USC's 100th @NCAA Nat'l Championship! Thanks for letting us be a part of it, @USCMensTennis. pic.twitter.com/kwI86xzwrM
— The Spirit of Troy (@USCTMB) May 21, 2014
After dropping the doubles point and then falling behind 2-0 overall after Roberto Quiroz lost in straight sets, the remaining singles starters took the court with enthused demeanor and shear focus in the final five courts of the NCAA Tournament.
Tournament MVP Ray Sarmiento, who finished his career with three championships, won his first set but then clawed his way back from a 1-3 second set deficit to eventually take the crucial game, equalizing the match at two-a-piece. Eric Johnson then rolled through a two-set victory giving USC the 3-2 lead with just two courts to play.
As senior Michael Grant was battling back and forth in a three-set thriller, sophomore Max de Vroome secured the title for this upstart Trojan program in another three-set battle. The 100th overall National Championship secures USC's 21st men's tennis title, claiming the crown that USC women's water polo came up short in this past month.
The Trojans continue to cement their legacy under the tutelage of head coach Peter Smith, who now moves into second place all-time with five national championships just behind USC tennis coaching legend George Toley (10). Way to go Trojans, Congrats!