May 22, 2009

Singh, Inglot/Shabaz Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals
The Virginia men’s tennis team had a singles player and doubles team advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Individual Championships on day three of the tournaments at the Mitchell Tennis Center. Sanam Singh (Chandigarh, India) reached the singles quarterfinals, while the team of Dominic Inglot (London, England) and Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, Va.) advanced to the doubles quarterfinals.

Singh moved into the quarterfinals with is 6-4, 7-5 win over No. 6 seed John-Patrick Smith of Tennessee. Last season, Smith was the NCAA Singles runner-up as he fell in the final to Somdev Devvarman.

Singh jumped out to an early lead, breaking Smith’s serve in the first game of the match. He went up two breaks at 4-1 when he broke Smith again in the fifth game. Smith answered in the following game to get a break back, but Singh held serve in his next two service games to win the set 6-4. 

Tar Heel Duo Reaches Quarterfinals of NCAA Doubles Tournament
Clay Donato and Taylor Fogleman cruised into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament on Friday with a straight-sets victory.

The 6-3, 7-6(3) win against Kiryl Harbatsiuk and Anton Stryhas of Sacramento State also marked Fogleman's 100th career doubles victory.

In addition to that feat, Fogleman has now reached the quarterfinals in the doubles tournament for the second straight year. It is Donato's first trip to the quarters. 

Weinacker Falls in NCAA Round of 16
Senior Jay Weinacker fell in the round of 16 at the NCAA Individual Singles Championships to No. 9 Steven Moneke of Ohio State on Friday, May 22, in College Station, Texas. This was Weinacker's final match for NC State after having an illustrious career, including earning All-American honors and being named to the All-ACC team for two straight years. Weinacker leaves the Pack with 106 career singles wins, and his name in the record books.

Weinacker started strong in the first set with a 3-1 lead, but Moneke put up a fight and brought the set to 5-4. Weinacker used a strong serve in the final game to take the first set, 6-4. Moneke controlled the second set, winning 6-1, and sending the opponents into a third. It was the first time during the tournament that Weinacker had to play a third set.

In the third set, Weinacker started with a 2-0 lead, but Moneke caught back up to tie the games 2-2. The two players traded games back and forth, but Moneke was able to break Weinacker's serve and take a 5-4 lead. Moneke won the final game, with a final set score of 6-4.