The Red and Black

Issue date: 6/7/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: KELLY WEGEL s The University's tennis team poses for photos after winning the 2007 NCAA Tennis Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Illinois in the finals to cap off a 32-0 season.

With the 2007 men's NCAA tennis team championships being held on campus, the Bulldogs had the task of defending their home court as well as competing for the title. Fortunately, the Bulldogs were up to the task and won the NCAA tournament to keep the 2007 National Championship plaque in Athens.

The win capped an already successful season in which the Bulldogs went undefeated and also won the SEC championship.

Coach Manuel Diaz called 2007 a year that you are "not likely to see again."

Georgia was the first team to finish the season undefeated since Illinois accomplished the same feat in 2003. The championship for the Bulldogs is the team's fifth in school history with previous titles in 1985, 1987, 1999 and 2001.

The team lost only one point on their way to winning the SEC Tournament, as well as losing only one point in the NCAA tournament. Matic Omerzel was named most valuable player of the NCAA tournament as well as most valuable player of the 2007 season.

To top it all off, three Bulldogs became Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American honorees last week, including John Isner, Luis Flores and Travis Helgeson. Isner, a graduating senior and number one in the nation during the season, made the list for the fourth time. The team has "gigantic shoes to fill," said Diaz about Isner's finish.

"I cannot think of a better way to go out than my last collegiate dual-match as a national champion. It was just awesome," said Isner.

Isner finished his career at Georgia by becoming the winningest player in team history.

Flores, a junior, was honored by the ITA for his play in both singles and doubles. Flores was honored by the ITA in all three years at the University.

Travis Helgeson, a transfer from Texas and a former two-time All-American, was honored again this year in singles.

The team had 22 shutouts this year on their way to a 32-0 record with a schedule that Diaz considered "the toughest we have ever had."

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