Feb. 19, 2008

Virginia Tops Ohio State 4-1 to Win ITA National Team Indoors

SEATTLE - The Virginia men's tennis team became the first ACC school to win a team men's tennis national championship, topping Ohio State 4-1 in the National Team Indoors final Monday afternoon at the Nordstrom Tennis Center. The top-ranked Cavaliers (11-0) became just 11th different program to win the event in the 34-year history of the tournament.

"To win a national championship means so much to this program," said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. "This group of guys deserved this as a reward for all of their hard work. They put the team above themselves as individuals and it came together today. Ohio State is a great team and we knew we had to play at a high level to beat them."

In doubles, the Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead by winning a tight opening point. At No. 1 doubles, Somdev Devvarman (Chennai, India) and Treat Huey (Alexandria, Va.) jumped out to a 6-2 lead over Matt Allare and Mike O'Connell and held on for the 8-5 victory. Virginia had a chance to clinch the opening point at the No. 2 position, as Houston Barrick (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Dominic Inglot (London, England) went to a tiebreaker against Justin Kronauge and Drew Eberly. The Cavalier duo took a 5-0 lead in the breaker, but the Buckeye team rallied to win the breaker 8-6.