Phillips, Ashlock return to nationals

Senior Dustin Phillips of Houston practices in preparation for the national tournament. Talon Photo by Christy Grant

It’s barely noon, but already the University’s asphalt tennis courts are searing hot. There is little breeze and the air seems heavy with humidity.

Most people would want to avoid the courts during a hot Texas summer, but the University’s top-ranking tennis duo of Dustin Phillips and David Ashlock can’t seem to stay away.

“We don’t really notice the heat,” Phillips said. “We are just focused on getting ready for this week.”

This seemingly tireless drive is what helped propel the pair into the spotlight as they competed in the NCAA Division III Tennis National Individual Championships, May 22-24 at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, Calif.

“Getting there is a heck of an accomplishment and so we really could not ask for more out of them two,” Coach Chris Bizot said.
Weathering Texas heat may have been good practice for playing under the California sun.

“It is a great opportunity and something that has taken a lot of hard work,” Phillips said during a practice session with Bizot. “We are really proud to go out there and represent our school and our team to do our best.”

The duo returned to the championship for the second consecutive season. Phillips returned to compete in singles and doubles, while Ashlock competed in doubles’ competition.

“It is nice for two-out-of-three years being able to go and I am lucky to play with this guy next to me,” Ashlock said. “I am looking forward to next week and also to next year.”

Last season, both players lost in the first round of the tournament — an outcome they did not want to repeat, but did.

“I think we were all a little disappointed,” Bizot said. “For some reason we did not play our best on that day and the hard part about nationals is you have to play good.”

Phillips lost in the first round to Charlie Cutler of Washington-St. Louis, 6-2, 6-2, in the singles competition and finished his season with a record of 25-5.

“I am going to try and play my best and not put so much pressure on myself,” Phillips said before he left for California. “Last year, I put a lot of pressure on myself to win in the first round and get All-American but I am going to go out and have fun and see what happens,” he said.

Phillips caps off a University career with a record of 45-11 in singles action.

Bizot said the strong start going undefeated in May in California could have played a factor in the end.

“For Dustin, he knows that this is his last tournament so maybe that came into play,” Bizot said. “He had played so well all year and maybe he peaked a little bit early in the season.”

Ashlock’s and Phillips’ 18-5 doubles record was the eighth best record in the competition.

Junior David Ashlock of Arlington moves to hit an incoming ball during a practice at the Summers Tennis Complex. Talon Photo by Christy Grant

“It is easy to get caught up in looking ahead in the draw and going to finals but we usually play our best if we take it one match at a time,” Phillips said.

The top team in doubles competition is Dan LaFountaine and Nate Fox from Grinnell College.

“I think we are as good as any of the teams in the competition,” Ashlock said. “It just depends on what week we fall on and who gets in the groove that week.”

Later in the day, LaFountaine and Fox of Grinnell rallied from one set down to eliminate Phillips and Ashlock, from the doubles competition, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.

“In doubles, we did not play well at all but we won the first season,” Bizot said. “We then went from playing poorly to playing really poorly and probably lost to a team that we should have beat.”

The Patriots duo was the only representatives from the American Southwest Conference to attend the event.

“I think it is pretty big,” Ashlock said. “A lot of people within our conference respect us and it is nice to represent our conference national wise to get us known from a decent tennis conference to a good tennis conference.”

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association later awarded Phillips the West Region Div III Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship.

He won the junior college version of the award while attending Tyler Junior College.