Cavalier Men's Tennis Tops William & Mary

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Jan. 29, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia Cavalier men’s tennis team improved their record to 4-0 this season by defeating a ranked opponent for the first time, downing No. 55 William & Mary 5-2 Wednesday night at the Boar’s Head Sports Club.

In a match as close as one would expect between teams ranked so closely, the Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. Stephen Nolen (Aurora, Colo.) and Rylan Rizza (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) won at No. 2 and Chris Gonyer (Louisville, Ky.) and Darrin Cohen (Lafayette, Calif.) won at No. 3.

In singles play, Virginia took a 3-0 lead with straight set wins by Gonyer at No. 5 and Doug Stewart (Malibu, Calif.) at No. 1 singles. Cohen then clinched the match with a three-set win at No. 4 before Rizza won at No. 3 in the final match on the court.

Virginia will take a week off before returning to action on February 8 as they travel to Pennsyvania to play the Quakers and Saint Joseph’s.

No. 57 Virginia 5, No. 55 William & Mary 2

Singles:1. No. 107 Doug Stewart (UVa) def. Jeffrey Kader (WM) 7-6, 7-62. Geoffrey Russell (WM) def. Michael Duquette (UVa) 4-6, 6-2, 6-43. Rylan Rizza (UVa) def. Sean Kelleher (WM) 6-7, 6-3, 6-44. Darrin Cohen (UVa) def. Alex Fish (WM) 6-2, 4-6, 6-25. Chris Gonyer (UVa) def. Stephen Ward (WM) 6-3, 7-56. Zack Malmgren (WM) def. Stephen Nolen (UVa) 6-4, 5-7, 0-1 ret.

Doubles:1. Kelleher/Ward (WM) def. Stewart/Duquette (UVa) 9-82. Nolen/Rizza (UVa) def. Russell/Fish (WM) 8-43. Gonyer/Cohen (UVa) def. Kader/Malmgren (WM) 8-6