Manchester, N.H. – The No. 3 seed
University of the District of Columbia men's tennis team advanced
to the NCAA East Regional semifinals with a 5-1 quarterfinal win
over No. 6 NYIT early Monday morning at The Derryfield School. The
Firebirds (17-4) will play the winner of the No. 2 Queens vs. No. 7
Southern New Hampshire quarterfinal match tomorrow at 11:30
a.m.
The Firebirds, who had already beaten the Bears three times this
season, including a 5-0 East Coast Conference Tournament semifinal
romp on April 17th, seized an early 2-1 lead by claiming two of the
three doubles matches, then coasted to three quick singles win to
clinch the program's first-ever NCAA Regional victory.
Miguel Uzcategui and Carlos Quiroga set the tone early with a
commanding, 8-1 win at third doubles. Then, after UDC's No. 1 duo
bowed out, 8-4, seniors Bruno Reich and Tomas Gajdusek grinded out
an 8-4 win at second doubles over Vojislav Pecikoza and Pedro
Peixoto to give the Firebirds a 2-1 advantage heading into singles
play.
Coming in this match, UDC was a combined 14-0 in singles play
throughout the three previous meetings against NYIT, and the
Firebirds had no let down this afternoon. Aleksandar Grabovac
handed Dustin Wenchel a 6-2, 6-0 loss at No. 1 singles, Simon
Andersson cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win over Julian Marcon at No. 5,
and Reich earned a decisive, 6-1, 6-0, match-clinching victory at
the No. 3 spot as the Firebirds defeated their East Coast
Conference foe for the fourth time this season, 5-1.
Provided by the District of Columbia Sports Information.
