 |
|
Virginia’s Drew Courtney and Lindsey Hardenbergh helped their teams advance in the NCAA Tournament. |
 |
Saturday afternoon proved to be a good one for the Virginia tennis programs. Both teams won NCAA Tournament matches at the Snyder Tennis Center. The men’s team cruised past Fairleigh Dickinson 4-0 in first round action, while the women’s team took down Tennessee 4-1 to advance to the Sweet 16.
Cavalier senior captain Drew Courtney played a key role in the Hoos’ win on the men’s side. Courtney teamed with Jarmere Jenkins at No. 1 doubles and the duo posted an 8-1 win against Arvis Berzins and Ibrahim Shams. UVa won the doubles point with that victory and an 8-1 triumph by Alex Domijan and Mitchell Frank at No. 3.
Courtney also cruised in singles where he posted a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Mark Henry at the No. 4 slot. He said that he focused on playing his style of tennis and his serve jumpstarted things from there.
“I think it started with my serve. I served really well today,” Courtney said. “I was hitting through my forehand well and, I think Coach touched on this earlier, just playing my game style and taking it to him. Early on he had some pretty good shots, but I just stayed the course and had a couple of good breaks and was able to push through to win pretty easy.”
The other singles’ winners for the Cavaliers were Julen Uriguen (No. 6) and Domijan (No. 2).
The Cavaliers (25-1) face VCU in the second round on Sunday at noon. The Rams defeated Columbia 4-0 in the first round. UVa is seeking its ninth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
“VCU is a talented team. They have a program that has been successful for a long time. They have a lot of experience on their team and some guys that can step up and really play at a high level,” Virginia coach Brian Boland said. “I know that Columbia pushed them pretty well. They’re good from one through six so we’re going to have to play well.”
On the women’s side, the Cavaliers tied the program’s record for single season wins with their 20th of the year. UVa is in the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.
Virginia won the doubles point when the teams of Maria Fuccillo and Lindsey Hardenbergh (No. 3) and Hana Tomljanovic and Erin Vierra (No. 2) took their matches. In singles, Caryssa Peretz (No. 6), Hardenbergh (No. 2), and Vierra (No. 5) claimed the wins needed to take the match.
“I am so proud of our team to advance to the round of 16,” Virginia coach Mark Guilbeau said in a news release. “Tennessee is a team that has had to battle a lot of injuries this year, but they are really talented and we knew they were going to give us everything they had today. They pushed us hard and I am pleased with how our team stepped up to that challenge. Victories like this are what make all the work they have put in worthwhile.”
The Hoos face Duke on Thursday at 4 p.m. in Athens, Ga.
