Men's Tennis Falls to Southern Methodist, 4-2

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March 20, 1999

MONTGOMERY, Ala – The University of Virginia men’s tennis team fell to #10 Southern Methodist 4-2 this afternoon in the semifinals of the Big 10 National Tires Blue-Gray Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala.

Virginia got off to a good start by capturing the doubles point. UVA’s #1 team of Brian Vahaly and Huntley Montgomery downed Dustin Mauck and Keith Pollack 8-6 at #1, while Tommy Croker and John Winter defeated Toby Hansson and Jon Wallmark 9-7 at #2.

The Cavaliers’ luck ran out as the Mustangs roared to victory on the strength of superior singles play, winning four of five matches. Virginia’s lone win came at #2 at Montgomery outlasted Hansson 6-4, 7-6(5). The win is Montgomery’s third in a row, his longest winning streak of the season.

The Mustangs gained wins by Jon Wallmark at #4 and Symen DeLange at #5 to pull closer to victory. Ignacio Hirgoyen, the nation’s 10th-ranked player, defeated Brian Vahaly, ranked 21st, 6-2, 7-5 at #1 in a battle of two of the nation’s top players. Dustin Mauck clinched the win for SMU with a 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1 win over John Winter at #3.

The loss drops the Cavaliers’ record to 7-4. They return to action a week from today at home against Clemson.

#10 Southern Methodist 4, #31 Virginia 2 Singles

1-#10 Ignacio Hirgoyen (SM) def. #21 Brian Vahaly 6-2, 7-5 2-Huntley Montgomery (V) def. Toby Hansson        6-4, 7-6(5) 3-#85 Dustin Mauck (SM) def. John Winter          6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1 4-#65 Jon Wallmark (SM) def. Hyon Yoo             6-2, 6-4 5-Symen DeLange (SM) def. Tommy Croker            7-5, 6-3 6-Brian Hunter (V) vs. Gerardo Mulas (SM), did not finish, match clinched 

Doubles

1-Montgomery/Vahaly (V) def. #5 D. Mauck/Keith Pollack 8-62-Croker/Winter (V) def. #43 Hansson/Wallmark          9-73-Hunter/Yoo (V) vs. Hirgoyen/DeLange, did not finish, match clinched