NORFOLK, Va. – Along with senior
Zack Watson (Harrisonburg, Va. / Eastern Mennonite) setting a new Radford men’s tennis standard, the Highlander trio of Watson,
Ivan Salec (Oroslavje, Croatia) and
Igor Ogrizek (Daruvar, Croatia) impressed on day one of the 2009 ITA/Wilson Men's Atlantic Regional Championships at Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.
Watson, the 21st seed in the singles main draw, became the first player in the history of Radford University men’s tennis to win an ITA Regional match four consecutive years with his straight-set (6-2, 6-2) win over Allen Tsang of U.M.B.C.
Like Watson, Ogrizek wasted little time advancing with a straight-set victory. The sophomore defeated Morgan State’s Eric Ward, 6-3, 6-0.
Coming off his impressive run through the D'Novo ITA All-American Championships where he knocked off five nationally ranked players, Salec, who earned the sixth seed, received a first-round bye and will begin singles play in the round of 64 Friday afternoon against Will Beck (Virginia Tech).
Watson and Ogrizek will join Salec in the round of 64 with Friday morning matches scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively.
In doubles, Salec and Watson recorded an 8-4 decision over Charlie Caris and Anthony Tan of Georgetown. The Highlanders’ sixth-seeded duo will take on ninth-seeded Eddie Bourchier and Jason Lee of Penn State in the round of 32 Friday evening at 6 p.m.
ITA WILSON ATLANTIC MEN'S REGIONAL COLLEGIATE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Atlantic Regional is one of 12 regional events nationally as players vie for a spot at the ITA National Indoor Championships. Admission to watch some of the country's best tennis will be free of charge throughout the event, scheduled for October 22-26 at Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University (Eight (8) Indoor Courts)
ABOUT THE ITA REGIONAL
There are 12 regional tournaments being played at various college campuses. The regional singles and doubles winner will advance to the ITA National Indoor Tournament hosted by Yale in New Haven, CT November 5-8, 2009.
PARTICIPATING PROGRAMS
Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, James Madison, Longwood, Liberty, Maryland, Maryland Baltimore County, Morgan State, Naval Academy, Norfolk State, Old Dominion University, Penn State, Radford, St. Joes, Temple, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary
CLICK HERE to visit the 2009 ITA/Wilson Men's Atlantic Regional Tournament Central website