W&M Men’s Tennis Opens Strong at ITA Regionals

Tribe Wins Seven of Nine Matches on First Day of Tournament

10/22/03 11:59PM

CHAPEL HILL, NC - William and Mary’s men’s tennis team played very well, winning seven of its nine matches on the first day of the qualifying draw at the ITA Mideast Regionals held at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

In the singles draw, four Tribe players won their first round match. Sophomore Stephen Ward (Douglaston, NY) and freshmen Steven Kane (Nokomis, FL) and Colin O’Brien (Dublin, Ireland) each swept past their opponent in straight-sets, while junior Alex Fish (Scituate, MA) required three sets to advance to the next round. In doubles, Fish and junior Jeff Kader (Geneva, OH) defeated Chris Brown/Ryan Heinberg (Duke), 8-3, in the first round, then knocked off Georgia Tech’s Trevor McLeod and Joao Menano, 8-4. Kane and senior Geoff Russell (Phoenix, AZ) received a first round bye, then won against Burak Ahmed/Darrin Cohen (Virginia), 9-8 (4), in the second.

“It’s a great beginning to a great tournament and I’m excited that we got off to such a good start,” said Tribe head coach Peter Daub. “However there’s still a lot of tennis to be played.”

Play resumes on Thursday, with singles starting at 8:00 AM and quarterfinal doubles matches beginning at 3:00 PM.


W&M Men’s Tennis at ITA Mideast Regionals (Qualifying Draw)
Singles – Round One
Alex Fish (W&M) d. Jonathan Sucupira (FSU); 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
Colin O’Brien (W&M) d. Joe Bassett (FSU); 6-0, 6-1
Steven Kane (W&M) d. Federico Ochoa (ETSU); 6-1, 6-1
Stephen Ward (W&M) d. Will Shaw (NCS); 6-4, 6-2
West Nott (GT) d. Kal Patrick (W&M); 6-3, 6-4

Doubles – Round One
Steven Kane/Geoff Russell (W&M); bye
Alex Fish/Jeff Kader (W&M) d. Chris Brown/Ryan Heinberg (Duke); 8-3
Ryan Johnson/William Noblitt (NCS) d. Colin O’Brien/Kal Patrick (W&M); 9-7

Doubles – Round Two
Kane/Russell (W&M) d. Burak Ahmed/Darrin Cohen (UVA); 9-8 (4)
Fish/Kader (W&M) d. Trevor McLeod/Joao Menano (GT); 8-4

ETSU – East Tennessee State, FSU – Florida State, GT – Georgia Tech, NCS – NC State, UVA – Virginia, W&M – William and Mary.