1998 - 1999

2000 ACUI Collegiate National Championships

Ashu Jain upsets Brian Pace in Men's Final!

Her absence was amply filled by Karen Chang, Kyna Fong and Inga Viktorova.  The men's side fielded the largest contingent ever with 42 participating.  In this, the third and final year for the event to be held at the University of Houston, the staff there went out of its way to make sure everything went off smoothly.  ACUI's Jeff Davis and U of H's Bill Schwerer coordinate a first class event.  2000 saw Robert Mayer come on board and team with Terry Canup to make sure the players got lots of matches and lots of time to intermingle with each other.

From the opening meeting and practice sessions on Thursday night, to the closing banquet on Saturday, everyhing fell into place.  Great play was the hallmark.  Always downplaying his game, Ashu Jain protested that his game just wasn't as good as reigning champion Brian Pace's.  It seems at this event, it was!  To the surprise of the spectators and maybe even Ashu himself, in straight games he downed Brian in the men's finals.  He then awaited the winner of the women's championship division to determine the overall tournament champion.

The women's side was tightly fought.  Karen Chang was determined to defend her title, but this year's competition was much tougher.  The best she could do was place third.  Kyna and Inga both proved too tough.  The matches on the women's side drew the most attention from the spectators.  The play was charged with intensity.

In the doubles, it was no surprise that Brian and Inga won the mixed or that Karen and Kyna won the women's.  It was a surprise that Michael Bartl and Mathias Koeppen captured the men's title, though!  They did it with what can be described as a, ummmm, unique service style.

As in the previous years, there was a split venue at these championships.  Six tables in the main Houston Room and four downstairs in the Cougar Den.  Full barriered courts for each table gave the participants ample room to lift their games.  Only slightly sub standard lighting in the main hall held them back.  While it is unknown at the time of the writing of this article where next year's championship will be, we are sure that the host college will be one that is proud to put on such an event.

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