THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110580
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
It was July 1992 when Nat Warren got the news. Norfolk State was starting a tennis team, and he would be coaching it.
Congratulations, he was told. Best of luck. And, by the way, could you have that team ready by September?
Warren didn't have a single player. With about six weeks to put together a team, there was only one thing to do.
``Hit the road,'' Warren recalls. ``I went traveling all over,'' looking for players.
Three years later, Warren is packing his suitcase again. This time, it's for California, where the Spartans will play in the first round of the NCAA Division II national championships today, against the University of North Florida.
It's a long trip, even longer when you consider Norfolk State's humble beginnings three years ago.
``No sir, I had no idea,'' Warren said when asked if he thought his team would advance this far this quickly.
The Spartans were 18-5 their first year, playing mostly a CIAA schedule. They were 12-5 last year and broke onto the national scene this year by winning the South section of the Eastern Regional Tournament last weekend. The victory qualified them for the national tournament.
``The team has just grown,'' said senior Andrew Kawesa, the No. 3 singles player and one of the team's charter members.
The Spartans (23-7) enhanced their schedule this season, playing Old Dominion and Division II power Jacksonville State. They lost both matches, 4-3, but, as Warren says, ``That lets you know we can play a little bit.''
They'll find out just how much they can play today, when they face North Florida. The Ospreys (17-7) were ranked second in the final Division II poll and are seeded second in the 16-team tournament. They have three players ranked among the top 26 in Division II, including junior Tom Jedlik, who is second in the nation.
``It'll give us an idea of what our level is,'' said freshman Avi Kigel, who plays No. 1 singles.
NSU has raised its level of play considerably since Kigel and fellow Israeli Assaf Almozlino joined the team this year. Kigel is 25-5 playing at No. 1 and is ranked 21st in the nation. Almozlino is 24-6, playing most of his matches at No. 4.
``They made the team whole,'' said junior Bradley Jordan, who plays at No. 6.
It's a team of many talents - and accents. Jordan is from Zimbabwe and Kawesa is from London. Merritt Johnson and Todd Byrom, both from Washington, D.C., are the only Americans in the top six.
Warren has blended the foreign and domestic talent into a unit that is strong from top to bottom.
``We have six solid players,'' Byrom said. ``Any one of us can play any position.''
Warren and company are uncertain of what to expect in California.
``We have no idea how good they are out there,'' Jordan said. ``It's all new to us.''
But at the very least, the tournament should put Norfolk State on the national map.
``Anything from this point on is a bonus,'' Warren said. ``Maybe now, when people start talking about tennis in the East, Norfolk State will be one of the names that comes up.'' by CNB