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Sept. 18, 2005
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Two Virginia men’s tennis players captured titles at the 2005 Crimson Tide Fall Invitational on the campus of the University of Alabama. Second years Eric Riley (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) and Jarrett Chirico (Sarasota, Fla.) each won flight championships in the tournament’s One-on-One Doubles competition.
In addition to singles and doubles, the tournament featured two draws of One-on-One Doubles, where two opponents, one on each side, play on just half the court diagonally from each other and must serve and volley on both first and second serves. This weekend’s tournament is just second time the format is being used in collegiate tennis. Each match consisted of one 8-game pro set.
In the One-on-One Doubles A Flight, Riley won the title. After defeating Colin O’Brien of William & Mary, Jose-Carlos Pinto and Ivan Bjelica of Mississippi State, Riley reached the finals against 2005 All-American Marko Rajevic of Georgia Tech. The match was tied 8-8 and went to a superbreaker. Rajevic lead 8-3 in the breaker before Riley rallied to win the breaker 11-9 to take the title. The semifinal and final matches were taped by Fox College Sports and will air on Fox College Sports Atlantic on October 16 at 7:00 pm ET.
In Flight B, Chirico took home the title. He defeated Alex Zuck of William & Mary in the final, 8-3.
In doubles play, the team of Chirico and Riley reached the semifinals of Flight A before falling to eventual champion Marc Spicjaric and Monte Tucker of Illinois. In the second round, the duo upset No. 37 ranked Pinto and Florant Girod of Mississippi State.
The Cavaliers will host the 2005 UVa Fall Invitational next weekend at the Snyder Tennis Center. Play begins on Friday, September 23 and runs through Sunday.