University of San Francisco Athletics

After grabbing the 1949 national collegiate team championship, Coach George Kraft's tennis squad faced the present season minus its two big guns, Art Larsen and Sam Match. However, the new horizon was not an dark as it seemed to be, for a trio of new suns loomed up to join the ranke of a tremendous quartet of veterans. Onto the scene came Wally Vickery, Stan Smith, and Jack Kramer to combine with Harry Roche, Conway Catton, Frank Sample, and Bill Green.

Head Coach: George Kraft
Overall Record: 12-0   
Team Members: Conway Catton, Bill Green, Art Larsen, Don Lowenbein, Sam Match, Harry Roche, Frank Sample
USF Hall of Famers: Conway Catton, Art Larsen, Sam Match

Tennis has a rich tradition at the University of San Francisco, and the teams who played from 1946 to 1949 were among the best the nation. In 1946, the Dons team placed 6^th in the NCAA Tournament, and again in 1947. In 1948, with war veterans streaming onto to college campuses, Coach Norm Brooks, whose name has been linked with the growth of Northern California tennis for 40 years, recruited an outstanding USF team on the GI Bill. Players included Harry Likas, Conway Cotton, Harry Roche, George Kraft, Don Lowenbein and Bill Green. A year later, Art Larsen transferred to USF from the College of the Pacific, and Sam Match from the University of Texas became eligible to play.
 
In 1948, Harry Likas won the U.S. Intercollegiate Singles title by defeating the three top-seeded players. In the final, he beat the nationally favored Victor Seixas of North Carolina 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. The Dons improved their standing to runner-up in the NCAA behind William and Mary.
 
1949 was the best year for the Dons, coached by George Kraft. During the regular season, the Dons, with Art Larsen, Sam Match and Harry Roche, Conway Catton, Frank Sample, and Bill Green, were the only undefeated college team in California 12-0. Art Larsen captured the Northern California Intercollegiate Singles Title and Sam Match the Ojai Valley Title.
 
The team then went on to record the highest point score to win the NCAA Tennis Championship Tournament at the University of Texas. Rollins, Washington, and Tulane shared the runner-up spots. In singles, Sam Match claimed the runner-up position behind Jack Tuero of Tulane. Match and Larsen both garnered the runner-up positions in the doubles final beating James Brink and Fred Fisher of Washington  with 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.