ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University defeated Dallas Baptist University, 8-1, to claim its third-consecutive National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region championship at the Seidel-Swagerty Tennis Center. The War Hawks (15-5) will advance to the NCCAA national championships in Mobile, Ala., on May 5-8 by virtue of the win over the Patriots (9-8).
 
Starting the day with the doubles matches, McM took a 2-1 lead in the team score by winning handily at both the Nos. 2 and 3 matches. Carlos Perez and Hunter Ward topped DBU's No. 2 team of Bryant Forshee and Anthony Burch, 8-2.
 
At No. 3 doubles, the War Hawks' tandem of tom Weir and Rayce Roberson improved their team-leading pairs record to 15-3, thanks to their 8-3 victory over the Patriots' duo of Isaac Childs and Jake Johnson.
 
The War Hawks swept all six singles matches. Only McM's No. 1 man – Dani Perez – had to go to three sets to earn his win.  Facing DBU's Cannon Jones, Perez won the first set, 6-2, before falling in the second set, 6-4. In the tie-breaking third set, Perez won an epic 16-14 battle in the pro set.
 
The balance of the War Hawks' lineup was able to dispatch of their Dallas Baptist foes in straight sets and with relative ease.
 
At No. 2 singles, Rico took care of Zane Nelson, 6-2, 6-2, for his team-leading 17th (17-3) individual win. Weir improved his record to 16-4, scoring a 6-0, 6-2 win over Burch at No. 3, with Roberson (13-7) overtaking Childs, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4.
 
Carlos Perez, playing No. 5 singles, won a tough first set, 7-5, against Jackson, and then cruised in the second set, 6-2.  At No. 6, Ward defeated Forshee, 6-2, 6-2.