The Spectator The independent student newspaper of Valdosta State University
Valdosta State tennis dynamic duo Luis Loeffler and Christian Hansen won the USTA/ITA small college championship last Sunday in Mobile, Ala., adding another championship to VSU tennis’ already impressive trophy case.
The pair claimed championship honors after defeating Brian Chow and Richard Meyer of Williams College 6-3 and 6-2.
In the longest match of the day, the duo began the first set on a slow start trailing 3-1 after the first break of the match.
Hansen and Loeffler weren’t down for long bouncing back winning the final five games of the set.
The only other person who traveled with them to Alabama was head coach John Hansen. He was quite pleased the way his players never lost focus.
“I knew they could do it,” Coach Hansen said. “The more the tournament went on, the more they started clicking. You have to be in fairly good shape, which these guys were. They were ready for the tournament.”
During the second set the Williams College pair broke serve first, however the Blazers regained the lead soon after taking the score to 3-2.
The duo secured their second championship in five months once they broke again to win the match at 5-2.
The victory ranked the two players as the No. 1 doubles team in Division II tennis.
The unstoppable duo met each other in the fall of 2009 and have been good friends ever since.
“I think we just get along great as friends off the court. The first time we played together I right away felt comfortable,” Christian Hansen said.
Loeffler and Hansen helped VSU win their national championship last May.
Hansen, ITA all-american, is in his senior year as a Blazer searching for one more championship before he makes his exit.
Loeffler, is just a sophomore with plenty of potential already earning a few notable accomplishments in his short VSU career.
“He’s going to be one of the best players we’ve ever had,” Coach Hansen said.
The duo will now travel to New York to compete in the National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships. This event will be Nov. 3-6 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
