Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

	2012-13 MEN'S TENNIS TEAM
	SPORT:	Men's Tennis	EVENT (If Applicable):
	YEAR (S):	2012-13

The Embry-Riddle men's tennis team made program history in 2013 battling through the four-match NAIA National Championship field to win the first national title in program history.
 
The Eagles secured a spot in the national title match with three easy victories over Northwestern Ohio (5-2), Lindsey Wilson (5-1) and Westmont (5-0).
 
Playing in one of the most exciting matches in championship history, the Eagles fell behind after doubles, but battled back to win four singles matches in dramatic fashion and earn the title of NAIA National Champion., but with the championship finale tied at 4-4 with just one match remaining all eyes turned to the battle between ERAU's Deni Zmak and AUM's Tim Hewitt at No. 2 singles. Zmak was victorious in the first set, downing Hewitt 6-4. The second set remained on serve until Hewitt broke Zmak to go up 5-4 and then held to force a third set. Up 5-4 in the third, Hewitt won two of the first three points of Zmak's service game and was at championship point, but Zmak drilled back-to-back aces on the way to winning that game and tie the score at 5-5. Each player held serve in their next game to make it 6-6 and force a tiebreaker. Zmak won three of the first four tiebreak points to go up 3-1, but Hewitt answered to tie things up at 3-3. From that point, a back-and-forth battle ensued, resulting in a 7-7 tie, which included Zmak saving two match points. Zmak won the next serve to go up 8-7 and on the next point, he returned Hewitt's serve with a backhand and hit a backhand slice that Hewitt was unable to return to win his 20th match of the year and secure the Eagles' national championship.
 
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of men's tennis on Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus, the Eagles accomplished their goal of being the last team standing at the end of the 2013 campaign. In addition to capturing the national title, the Eagles set a program record for wins, closing out the season at 24-2 and ending on an 18-match win streak.                                 
 
2012-13 Season Highlights
- Captured the program's ninth consecutive regular season conference title
- Won their fifth straight Sun Conference Tournament crown
- Chris Freeman, Patrick Besch, Deni Zmak and Anthony Grasso earned NAIA All-America honors
- Besch, Freeman and Zmak garnered ITA All-America accolades
- Set the program record for wins, closing the season with a 24-2 record
- Head Coach Dave Paschal was named the NAIA Coach of the Year
- Zmak was named the Ward-Ballinger Award winner at the national tournament