Stanford's Nicole Gibbs, Ohio State's Blaz Rola win NCAA titles
Blaz Rola of Ohio State and Nicole Gibbs of Stanford won NCAA singles titles Monday.
Gibbs repeated as women's champion after routing a hobbled Mary Weatherholt of Nebraska 6-2, 6-4. Rola, who is from Slovenia, became the first men's tennis champion for the Buckeyes, beating Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia 7-6 (8), 6-4.
Rola won on a disputed match point. His forehand landed near the line and was called in. Jenkins jumped up and down and pointed at a scuff mark where he said the ball landed. After the match, Rola conceded the ball appeared to have been out.
Gibbs, a junior who plans to turn pro, had never played Weatherholt before. She was eventually able to dominate with a strong forehand after falling behind 3-2 early in the first set.
Weatherholt hyperextended her right knee late in the second set returning a hard backhand and was able to continue only after it had been heavily taped. That knee has been operated on three times, most recently in September.