Men's Tennis Downs Alabama, 4-1

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March 18, 1999

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of Virginia men’s tennis team scored a mild upset today by downing #28 Alabama in the first round of the Big 10 National Tires Blue-Gray Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala. The win was the Cavaliers’ first in three matches on their spring break trip as they improved to 6-3 on the season. Alabama, meanwhile, falls to 8-5 overall.

The win is just the fourth for Virginia over a school from the Southeastern Conference and the first since a 6-3 win over Kentucky on March 15, 1974.

The Cavaliers, ranked 31st in the latest rankings, jumped to the early lead by capturing the doubles point. Tommy Croker and John Winter continued their hot play, winning their fourth consecutive match, with an 8-5 win at #2 over Graydon Oliver and Alin Taranga. Brian Hunter and Hyon Yoo got back on the winning track with an 8-3 win over Chris McRae and Karim Zaher at #3 to help UVa gain the important doubles point.

Yoo and Croker pulled the Cavaliers closer to the win with straight set singles wins. Yoo got his fifth straight win with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Taranga at #4, while Croker snapped a two-match losing streak by defeating Mason Snider 6-3, 6-2 at #5.

Sophomore Huntley Montgomery clinched the match for Virginia by defeating Ariel Rivero at #2. After dropping the first set 6-3, Montgomery rebounded to take the next two sets by identical 6-3 scores.

#31 Virginia 4, #28 Alabama 1

Singles
1-#6 Francisco Rodriguez (A) def. Brian Vahaly 7-6 (3), 1-0 retired
2-Huntley Montgomery (V) def. Ariel Rivero 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
3-John Winter (V) vs. Graydon Oliver (A) did not finish, match clinched
4-Hyon Yoo (V) def. Alin Taranga 6-4, 6-2
5-Tommy Croker (V) def. Mason Snider 6-3, 6-2

6-Brian Hunter (V) vs. Susheel Narla (A) did not finish, match clinched

Doubles
1-#29 Rivero/Rodriguez (A) def. #49 Montgomery/Vahaly 8-4
2-Croker/Winter (V) def. Oliver/Taranga 8-5
3-Hunter/Yoo (V) def. Chris McRae/Karim Zaher 8-3