Feb. 16, 2008

UNC Shocks Baylor with Upset Win

SEATTLE - 12th-seeded and 13th-nationally ranked North Carolina secured a huge victory on Saturday in the ITA National Men's Team Indoor Championships, defeating the nation's number four team and the 2004 national champions, Baylor. The Tar Heels, who had been on a three-game losing streak prior to the match, looked to their young stars for leadership, as the foursome of sophomores Clay Donato, Chris Kearney, and Stefan Hardy, and junior Taylor Fogleman, accounted for all of the wins in the match.

"It was a very good win," Head Coach Sam Paul said after the match. "I'm proud of the way our guys competed after losing a couple in a row. We've had to play three of the toughest teams in the nation the last three matches [#3 Ohio State, #5 Mississippi, and #4 Baylor], and I'm proud of the way we've competed in those matches."

UNC opened up doubles with an 8-3 win by Kearney, but instead of partnering with Fogleman, his teammate with whom he achieved a national number three ranking, he was matched with Donato. After Baylor answered with an 8-3 victory of their own, it was Fogleman and his new partner, Hardy, who nailed down the final match at the score of 9-7 to deliver the team point to the Tar Heels.

Cavaliers Rally for 4-3 Win Over UCLA in National Indoor Quarterfinals

SEATTLE - The Virginia men's tennis team reached the semifinals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships for the third time in the past four seasons with a thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind win over UCLA Saturday at the Nordstrom Tennis Center. The win improves the Cavaliers' record to 9-0 on the season, the best start in school history.

"This is a great win for us," said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. "I thought we came out with a lot of energy and effort in doubles, but UCLA played extremely well and took the opening point. From that point on, I was so proud of how we were able to dig deep, especially when we had our backs against the wall trailing 3-1. I know we can play a lot better, but we are still growing as a team. It is a long season, but you only get better by playing the best teams and UCLA is right up there."

The Bruins took the opening point by winning at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. The top-ranked Cavalier duo of Somdev Devvarman (Chennai, India) and Treat Huey (Alexandria, Va.) downed Nick Meister and Harel Srugo 8-5 at No. 1 doubles. The Bruins drew even as Jeremy Drean and Michael Look defeated Houston Barrick (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, Va.) 8-5 at No. 3 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Mathieu Dehaine and Holden Seguso clinched the doubles point for UCLA with an 8-4 win over Ted Angelinos (Athens, Greece) and Lee Singer (Laguna Niguel, Calif.).

Wake Forest Tops East Tennessee State and Brown

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Maryland Falls to Purdue, 5-2

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