Virginia Downs Penn State 4-0 in National Indoor First Round

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SEATTLE The Virginia men’s tennis team matched the best start to a season in school history (8-0) with a 4-0 win over No. 38 Penn State Friday afternoon in the opening round of the 2008 ITA National Team Indoor Championships. With the victory, the top-ranked Cavaliers advance to the quarterfinals of the event for the third time in the past four seasons.

“I was pleased with our overall performance,” said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. “The first match of any tournament is always going to be difficult. I thought we did a good job of coming out in doubles and grabbling the momentum. Give Penn State credit, they are an outstanding team that competed extremely hard. They made us have to earn this victory.”

The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in the match by winning the doubles point. The top-ranked duo of Somdev Devvarman (Chennai, India) and Treat Huey (Alexandria, Va.) cruised to an 8-3 win over Adam Slagter and Eddie Bourchier at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Dominic Inglot (London, England) and Houston Barrick (Brentwood, Tenn.) topped Ryan Gormley and Jake Toole 8-5 to clinch the opening point for Virginia.

The Cavaliers continued their strong play in singles, winning five of the six first sets. In three of those matches, Virginia followed by winning the second set to take the match and clinch the dual match. Huey made the score 2-0 in favor of Virginia with his 6-4, 6-4 win over Slagter at No. 2 singles. Sanam Singh (Chandigarh, India) defeated Brendan Lynch 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 singles to make the score 3-0. Barrick ended the match with his 6-4, 7-5 win over Gormley at No. 5 singles. For Singh and Barrick, they continued their unbeaten singles play in dual matches this season.

The Cavaliers matched the best start to a season in school history at 8-0. Virginia opened the 2005 season with an 8-0 record before falling in the National Team Indoors final. Last season, Virginia also started the year 8-0 before falling in the National Team Indoors semifinal.

The Cavaliers will meet No. 8 UCLA in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The Bruins defeated No. 9 Notre Dame 4-0 in their first round match. Saturday’s quarterfinal is slated for 11 a.m. at the Nordstrom Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Washington.

No. 1 Virginia 4, No. 38 Penn State 0

Doubles:
1. #1 Devvarman/Huey (UVa) def. Slagter/Bourchier (PSU) 8-3
2. #25 Barrick/Inglot (UVa) def. Gormley/Toole (PSU) 8-5
3. James/Lynch (PSU) led #17 Angelinos/Singer (UVa) 6-5 DNF

Singles:
1. # Somdev Devvarman (UVa) vs. #51 Michael James (PSU) 4-6, 6-3 DNF
2. #12 Treat Huey (UVa) def. Adam Slagter (PSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Sanam Singh (UVa) def. Brendan Lynch (PSU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Michael Shabaz (UVa) led Eddie Bourchier (PSU) 7-6 (9), 4-3 DNF
5. Houston Barrick (UVa) def. Ryan Gormley (PSU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Ted Angelinos (UVa) led Guillaume St. Maurice (PSU) 6-2, 5-6 DNF

Order of Finish: Doubles- 1,2 Singles- 2,3,5
Records: Virginia (8-0), Penn State (3-3)