The 25th-ranked University of Texas at Tyler men’s tennis team captured the American Southwest Men’s Tennis championship on Sunday afternoon by sweeping No. 30 Hardin-Simmons, 5-0, at the Summers Tennis Center. The win put a stop to Hardin-Simmons' 69 match win-streak over conference opponents and put an end to their six-year reign as conference champions.

The Patriots got off to a roaring start in the match by blanking the Cowboys 3-0 in doubles. David Ashlock and Dustin Phillips picked up the win at No. 1 by beating Ryan Waters and Wade Morgan, 8-3.

In the No. 2 spot, Robert Sajovich and Steven Campbell took down Justin Lockaby and Andy Cariens, 8-4. In final doubles pairing of the day, UT Tyler’s Nick Kreines and Jordan Repsher completely shutdown the Hardin-Simmons duo of Stephen Salazar and Todd Henington, by defeating them, 8-0.

After the doubles portion of the match, the Patriots needed just two points to clinch their first ever ASC Championship.

The first singles pairing to finish was the No. 3 flight which featured Steven Campbell of UT Tyler and Daniel Moore of Hardin-Simmons. Campbell made quick work of Moore, shutting him out 6-0, 6-0.

At the top flight, Dustin Phillips took out Ryan Waters, 6-1, 6-4, to win the match for his team.

David Ashlock, Dustin Phillips and Robert Sajovich were all named to the All-Tournament team, while Steven Campbell received tournament MVP honors.

With the win, UT Tyler earns a berth in the 2008 NCAA Division III men’s tennis championship. The Patriots will now wait for conference tournaments around the nation to finish next weekend before finding their destination for the first three rounds of play.

The win gives UT Tyler a record of 17-6 heading into the NCAA tournament, while Hardin-Simmons ends their season at 12-7.