May 13, 2000

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The 37th-ranked University of Virginia men's tennis team fell to state rival and 19th-ranked Virginia Commonwealth 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Championships at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center Saturday afternoon, May 13. With the loss, the Cavaliers conclude the team portion of their season with a 16-10 record. The Rams improve to 23-4 and advance to Sunday's second round where they will play 13th-ranked Mississippi, a 4-0 first-round winner over Virginia Tech.

Virginia Commonwealth jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning two doubles matches to earn the doubles point. The other doubles match was suspended. The Rams won the #4, #5 and #6 singles matches to clinch the team victory. The remaining three singles matches were suspended.

In doubles action, VCU earned the point with wins at #1 and #3 doubles. Virginia third-years Brian Vahaly (Atlanta, Ga./The Lovett School) and Huntley Montgomery (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill), currently No. 26 in the nation, fell at #1 doubles to the Rams' No. 19 Daniel Andersson and Frank Moser 8-2. Virginia Commonwealth also won the #3 doubles match as Fernando Sanchez and Jose Sanchez defeated UVa first-year Michael Duquette (Virginia Beach, Va./Norfolk Academy) and third-year Brian Hunter (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) 8-3. The #2 match between Virginia fourth-year John Winter (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) and third-year Tommy Croker (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephens) and VCU's Mats Norin and Mattias Hoglund was suspended with Winter and Croker leading 6-5.

In singles play, VCU swept the #4, #5, and #6 matches to earn the win. At #4, VCU's Fernando Sanchez posted a 6-3, 6-3 win over Croker. Norin won his #5 match over Virginia's Hunter by an identical 6-3, 6-3 score. Hoglund recorded a 6-0, 6-4 victory over UVa's Duquette at #6 singles. The remaining three singles matches were suspended. In the showdown at #1 singles between No. 4 Vahaly and No. 2 Andersson, the Rams' Andersson was leading an extremely close match 7-6 (5), 3-3 when the match was halted because VCU clinched the team victory. At #2 singles, No. 19 Moser was leading No. 66 Montgomery 6-4, 3-4 when that match was suspended. Winter and No. 61 Jose Sanchez were tied at #4 singles, 6-3, 3-6, 2-2 when it was stopped.

Vahaly and Montgomery will represent Virginia in the NCAA Individual Championships May 24-28 at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. Vahaly will compete in the 64-player NCAA Singles Championship and will also team with Montgomery in the 32-team NCAA Doubles Championship.

Virginia Commonwealth 4, Virginia 0

Singles
1. No. 2 Daniel Andersson (VCU) vs. No. 4 Brian Vahaly (UVa), suspended,
7-6 (5), 3-3
2. No. 19 Frank Moser (VCU) vs. No. 66 Huntley Montgomery (UVa), suspended,
6-4, 3-4
3. No. 61 Jose Sanchez (VCU) vs. John Winter (UVa), suspended, 6-3, 3-6, 2-2
4. Fernando Sanchez (VCU) def. Tommy Croker (UVa), 6-3, 6-3
5. Mats Norin (VCU) def. Brian Hunter (UVa), 6-3, 6-3
6. Mattias Hoglund (VCU) def. Michael Duquette (UVa), 6-0, 6-4

Doubles
1. No. 19 Daniel Andersson / Frank Moser (VCU) def. No. 26 Brian Vahaly /
Huntley Montgomery (UVa), 8-2
2. John Winter / Tommy Croker (UVa) vs. Mats Norin / Mattias Hoglund (VCU),
suspended, 6-5
3. Fernando Sanchez / Jose Sanchez (VCU) def. Michael Duquette / Brian
Hunter (UVa), 8-3