written by: Brandon Jackson, Minnesota Club Tennis and Advisory Board Member

This year was the most successful USTA Campus Championship ever in the Northern Section. On February 2nd, ten teams representing six schools descended upon St. Peter, Minnesota and produced an exciting two days of action-packed competition.

In the first of three pools, the University of Minnesota A managed to breeze through its competition by winning a whopping 86% of their games played. In Pool 2, Minnesota B produced brilliant tennis and played its way into the Championship bracket as well. In the third pool, North Dakota State University advanced by defeating both Minnesota C and the University of Wisconsin Stout A. The Championship bracket consisted of four teams, so with three spots already booked, Gustavus Adolphus earned the last spot with the highest winning percentage of the second place pool finishers.

In the Championship Bracket play, Minnesota A faced off with NDSU while Minnesota B squared off against Gustavus for a spot to determine the section champions and representatives at the USTA National Campus Championship in Cary, North Carolina. Both Minnesota teams emerged victoriously by defeating NDSU 28-12 and Gustavus 25-15 respectively. In the championship match, Minnesota B gave Minnesota A its toughest match taking 18 games off of the eventual champions. In the third place match, NDSU squeaked by Gustavus 21-17 giving them the second automatic bid into the national tournament.

Six teams faced off in the Consolation Bracket including Carleton College, Minnesota C, UW Stout A and B, and University of North Dakota A and B. In the first round of bracket play UW Stout B advanced after coming back and defeating Minnesota 25-24 in a super tiebreaker. In the other match, UW Stout A held on against UND A 22-20. Both Carleton and UND B were awarded byes. In the semifinals, Stout A defeated Carleton 30-21 and UND B won their match against UW Stout B 28-24. In a match between first round losers, UND A came back and handed Minnesota their second straight lose 27-26 once again in a super tiebreaker. Due to time constraints, the match between UW Stout A and UND B could not be played.

Overall, this was a very successful tournament for the Northern Section, and there is even greater anticipation for next year.