Hurricanes Fall to Cavaliers in NCAA Round of 16
May 21, 2006
STANFORD, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Calif. – The ninth-seeded Miami men’s tennis team ended its impressive season with a 4-0 loss to eighth-seeded Virginia in the NCAA Championship Round of 16 Saturday evening at the TaubeTennisCenter on the campus of StanfordUniversity. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Hurricanes (20-5) closed their season as the most improved team in the country, reaching the Top 10 one year after not being selected for the NCAA Tournament. Miami made its first Round of 16 appearance since 2001. The Cavaliers (24-8) advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals where they will play top-seeded Georgia at 6 p.m. (PST).
“I thought we played a descent match today, but Virginia played better,” said head coach Mario Rincon. “We competed hard and our guys laid it on the line. Virginia was better today. We’ve come a long way this year and I’m very proud of what we have accomplished.”
Virginia opened the match by capturing the doubles point with wins at No. 3 and No. 2 doubles. The match was far from over, however, as three courts split sets to force a third and deciding set.
The Cavaliers took a 2-0 match lead when Darrin Cohen topped John Hoyes, 7-5, 6-4 at the No. 6 slot.
At court No. 2, Miami’s 99th ranked Daniel Vallverdu dropped the first set to 54th ranked Rylan Rizza, 6-3, but battled back to force a tie-breaker in the second set. Rizza came out on top, however, after winning the tie breaker 12-10 for a 6-3, 7-6 victory and a 3-0 match lead.
Over at No. 4 singles, Tim Krebs claimed the first set 6-3 but could not hold off 63rd ranked Treat Huey who won two-straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, to clinch the win for the Cavaliers.
Miami will now focus on the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship that will run Wednesday, May 24 thru Monday, May 29. Luigi D’Agord will enter the singles tournament as the No. 3 overall seed and will join Vallverdu in the doubles tournament.
Saturday, May 20- Men’s Team Round of 16
No. 6 OhioState 4, No. 11 UNC 0
No. 3 Texas 4, No. 14 Mississippi 1
No. 10 UCLA 4, No. 7 Illinois 2
No. 2 Pepperdine 4, Florida 0
No. 5 Baylor 4, Washington 1
No. 13 Stanford 4, No. 4 Duke 0
No. 8 Virginia 4, No. 9 Miami 0
No. 1 Georgia 4, Notre Dame 0
