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Aug. 12, 2000
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – University of Virginia rising fourth-year All-American tennis player Brian Vahaly (Atlanta, Ga./The Lovett School) has advanced to the finals of the ITA National Summer Championships, which are being hosted by William & Mary. Vahaly, the top seed in the tournament, will play second-seeded K.J. Hippensteel of Stanford in Sunday’s final. Vahaly and doubles partner Ed Carter of Arizona State will also be vying for the doubles title. The singles final begins at 9:00 a.m., followed by the doubles final. The winners of the singles and doubles tournaments earn wild card berths into the August 22-26 U.S. Open qualifying tournaments.
Vahaly, the 2000 ACC Player of the Year, advanced to the final by defeating sixth-seeded John Paul Fruttero of California, 6-1, 6-2 in Saturday’s semifinal. Hippensteel advanced to the final with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Auburn’s Andrew Columbo.
After receiving an opening round bye, Vahaly defeated Yale’s Steve Berke 6-4, 5-5 retired in the second round on August 9. In the third round on August 10, Vahaly posted a 6-3, 6-0 triumph over West Virginia’s Kent James. Vahaly moved into the semifinals with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Cody Hubbell of Texas A&M in the quarterfinals on August 11.
In doubles play, second-seeded Vahaly and Carter posted a 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Hippensteel and Stanford teammate Scotty Scott in Saturday’s semifinals. Vahaly and Scott will play Steve Berke of Yale and John Paul Fruttero of Cal in Sunday’s final.
Vahaly finished the 1999-2000 collegiate season with a 35-5 singles record with his 35 wins setting a school record for singles victories in a season. He advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, before falling to Stanford’s Alex Kim. Vahaly was ranked fifth in the final WingspanBank.com singles rankings and was as high as third during the year. Vahaly and UVa doubles partner Huntley Montgomery were 18-9 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Doubles Championship to second-seeded Geoff Abrams and Alex Kim of Stanford. The Cavalier duo was ranked 31st in the final WingspanBank.com doubles poll.