Men's Tennis Falls to No. 10 Minnesota

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Feb. 14, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia Cavalier men’s tennis team fell for the first time this season, dropping a 5-2 match Friday night to No. 10 Minnesota at Boar’s Head Sports Club. In a battle of two of the last 21 unbeaten teams in collegiate men’s tennis, the Gophers picked up their seventh win of the year.

The Cavalier fell behind early by dropping the doubles point. The Virginia team of Doug Stewart (Malibu, Claif.) and Michael Duquette (Virginia Beach, Va.) won at No. 1 doubles over the No. 50 ranked team of Thomas Haug and Avery Ticer. However, the Gophers won at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to win the point and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

Virginia would tie the match at 1-1 as Rylan Rizza (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) cruised to a straight set win at No. 3 singles. However, Virginia could only win one additional match as Stephen Rozek (Chadron, Ohio) won at No. 5 singles. Stewart, ranked No. 107 in singles, came close to upsetting the No. 54 ranked Haug at No. 1 singles. Stewart’s serve was not broken, but lost a pair tie-breakers to be defeated.

“I feel we fought hard against a legitimate top-ten team tonight,” stated Virginia head coach Brian Boland. “The difference tonight was experience. We are a young team that is still learning. Tonight was our first real test of the year and these types of matches is where a young team learns the most.”

The Cavalier return to action at Boar’s Head on February 22 as they host a doubleheader. The Cavaliers will play Georgetown at 1:00 p.m. and Liberty at 5:00 p.m.

No. 10 Minnesota 5, No. 52 Virginia 2

Singles:1. No. 54 Thomas Haug (Minn) def. No. 107 Doug Stewart (UVa) 7-6, 4-6, 10-62. No. 58 Alex Zharinov (Minn) def. Chris Gonyer (UVa) 6-2, 6-43. Rylan Rizza (UVa) def. Chris Wettingel (Minn) 6-1, 6-24. Manuel Lievano (Minn) def. Michael Duquette (UVa) 6-4, 6-45. Stephen Rozek (UVa) def. Avery Ticer (Minn) 2-6, 6-3, 10-36. Clay Estes (Minn) def. Stephen Nolen (UVa) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles:1. Stewart/Duquette (UVa) def. No. 50 Haug/Ticer (Minn) 8-12. Lievano/Estes (Minn) def. Rizza/Nolen (UVa) 8-63. Wettengel/Zharinov (Minn) def. Gonyer/Cohen (UVa) 8-4