Men's Doubles Team Advances at NCAA Championships
May 22, 2008
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Tulsa, Okla. – The University of Miami’s third-seeded doubles pair of All-Americans Daniel Vallverdu and Carl Sundberg rallied for the 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over TCU’s 50th-ranked Kriegler Brink and Cosmin Cotet on Thursday evening to advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships at the University of Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
After a sluggish start, the Hurricanes dropped the opening set 6-2. But the Miami duo rebounded to take the early 2-0 lead in the second set en route to the 6-2 decision, knotting up the match. Both teams battled in the decisive third set, and the Hurricanes found themselves on the verge of elimination, trailing 5-4. But Vallverdu and Sundberg rallied, winning the next three games to claim the 7-5 victory to advance to Friday’s second round.
“The windy conditions made today’s match really tough,” said Sundberg. “But we played solid doubles in the end and won the important points.”
Miami’s third-seeded tandem – who improves to 25-8 with today’s win – will face Ole Miss’ 21st-ranked Bram ten Berge and Matthias Wellerman in the Round of 16 on Friday at 3:30 p.m. (EST). The Ole Miss duo move on after defeating William and Mary’s No. 36 Alexandru Cojanu and Keziel Juneau, 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (1). Vallverdu and Sundberg previously defeated the Ole Miss pair, 8-6, in the finals of the Wilson/ITA Southeast Regionals in the fall.
With 27 doubles wins this season – including two with David Rosenfeld, Vallverdu moves into a tie with Rosenfeld for second place in Miami history and is just one win shy of the record set by Alvaro Fillol in 1976. Sundberg has 26 doubles wins this season – including one with Hector Nieto – and is in a tie for third place.
Earlier Thursday, Vallverdu bowed out of singles competition with a 6-4,6-4 loss to host Tulsa’s 18th-ranked Arnau Brugues (22-9) in the NCAA’s Round of 32. It marked the second-straight season that Vallverdu (29-9), who was seeded fifth, had reached at least the second round of NCAA singles action. Vallverdu’s 29 singles wins this season ranks eighth best in Miami history, while his 72 career wins is 11th.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed by the loss in singles,” said Vallverdu. “I had a lot of chances that I just didn’t capitalize on, but I’m happy that we won our doubles match tonight.”
Doubles – Round of 32 (First Round)
No. 3 Daniel Vallverdu/Carl Sundberg (UM) def. No. 50 Kriegler Brink/Cosmin Cotet (TCU), 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
Singles – Round of 32 (Second Round)
No. 18 Arnau Brugues (Tulsa) def. No. 5 Daniel Vallverdu (UM), 6-4, 6-4
