May 31, 2000

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - University of Virginia rising fourth-year Brian Vahaly (Atlanta, Ga./The Lovett School) has been named to the 2000 USA Tennis Collegiate Team as announced by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). The team consists of the top 12 American men's and women's collegiate players (six men and women).

In addition to Vahaly, the men's USA Tennis Collegiate Team consists of Geoff Abrams (Stanford), K.J. Hippensteel (Stanford), Alex Kim (Stanford), Jeff Morrison (Florida), and Ryan Sachire (Notre Dame). The team will be coached by Tim Cass of Texas A & M. The team serves as an elite training program for the top American collegiate tennis players to provide exposure for team members to the professional circuit in a team oriented environment. The team is administered by the USTA and ITA. The 2000 men's team begins play June 12 in Berkeley, California. They will also play in four additional tournaments and have the option to play in the August 9-13 ITA National Summer Championships.

Vahaly recently concluded an outstanding junior season by advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championship. He was the second seed in the tournament, the highest seed ever for a UVa tennis player. Vahaly's entry into the quarterfinals is also the furthest a Virginia tennis player has advanced in the NCAAs since the current format was adopted in 1977.

In singles play in 1999-2000, Vahaly posted an impressive 35-5 record with his 35 wins setting a school record for singles victories in a season. Vahaly's loss to Stanford's Alex Kim in the quarterfinals of the NCAAs snapped his 15-match winning streak. He was also 23-1 in dual matches and a perfect 8-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Vahaly is ranked fourth in the WingspanBank.com ratings released May 3 and has been ranked as high as third in 1999-2000. In doubles, Vahaly and partner Huntley Montgomery were 18-9 and lost in the first round of the NCAA Doubles Championship to second-seeded Geoff Abrams and Alex Kim of Stanford. The Cavalier duo was ranked 26th entering the NCAAs.

In addition to being named to the USA Tennis Collegiate Team, Vahaly has earned several other awards for his play in 1999-2000. He garnered ITA All-America honors for the second consecutive season and was selected as the ACC Player of the Year. It marked the first time a Virginia player captured ACC Player of the Year honors. Vahaly was named All-ACC for the third straight season as well. He was named the ITA Player to Watch in Region II in late May. The ITA Player to Watch Award goes to a player who has an outstanding season, has not yet won an ITA Grand Slam singles title, and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of his career.