Sept. 26, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky men’s tennis team was represented well Sunday at the Land Rover Napa Valley Tennis Classic, with juniors Eric Quigley and Alex Musialek both advancing out of group play and into the United States Tennis Association Wildcard Shootout semifinals. The event was played at the Meadowood Resort in St. Helena, Calif.
Quigley, ranked eighth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason singles poll, went 3-0 in group play and advanced to the championship match of the wildcard shootout before falling to No. 9 Alex Lacroix from Florida. Quigley advanced to group play with a 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4 win over Raymond Sarmiento from Southern California. The native of Pewee Valley, Ky., won his quarterfinal match in the shootout over USTA junior Alexios Halebian 11-9 and then took down No. 26 Dennis Nevolo of Illinois in the semifinals 10-5 to advance to the championship. The ninth-ranked Lacroix defeated Quigley 10-6 in the championship.
Musialek also posted an impressive day Sunday, defeating Vasko Mladenov of Texas in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the wildcard shootout. In the quarterfinals of the shootout, Musialek beat USTA junior Mitchell Frank to advance the native of Dax, France to the semifinals against No. 9 Lacroix. Lacroix defeated Musialek in the semis 10-6.
As a team, Kentucky was one of two schools represented at the tournament to have two players win their respective groups, joining Texas. The Wildcats also had two players advance to the wildcard shootout, more than any other school. A total of six schools were represented in the event, including defending 2010 National Champion USC and perennial powers Texas, Florida, California and Illinois. All schools in the tournament, including Kentucky, finished the 2010 season in the top 18 of the ITA rankings.
The 32-man field was split into eight pools, featuring three collegians and a junior in each pool with the eight pool winners advancing to compete in a single-elimination, 10-point tiebreak tournament.
Sophomore Anthony Rossi completed the weekend with a win, defeating Jonathan Dahan of California in straight sets 6-1, 7-5. Freshman Maks Gold fell in his final match of the weekend 6-1, 6-0 to Nevolo.
UK will hit the court again Friday, Oct. 1, at the All American Pre-Qualifying tournament in Tulsa, Okla.
Land Rover Napa Valley Tennis Classic
Sept. 26, 2010 – Day Three Results
Alex Musialek (Kentucky) defeats Vasko Mladenov (Texas) – 6-4, 6-2
Eric Quigley (Kentucky) defeats Raymond Sarmiento (USC) – 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-4
Anthony Rossi (Kentucky) defeats Jonathan Dahan (Cal) – 6-1, 7-5
Dennis Nevolo (Illinois) defeats Maks Gold (Kentucky) – 6-1, 6-0
Group Winners
Group 1 – Eric Quigley (Kentucky)
Group 2 – Alex Lacroix (Florida)
Group 3 – Mitchell Frank (USTA)
Group 4 – Ed Corrie (Texas) – [Nick Andrews (Cal) to play in the shoot-out due to travel schedule]
Group 5 – Dennis Nevolo (Illinois)
Group 6 – Alex Musialek (Kentucky)
Group 7 – Jean Andersen (Texas) – [Alexios Halebian (USTA) in the shoot-out due to travel schedule]
Group 8 – Sekou Bangoura (Florida)
Shootout Results
Quarterfinals
Quigley (Kentucky) defeats Halebian (USTA) – 11-9
Nevolo (Illinois) defeats Bangoura (Florida) – 12-10
Musialek (Kentucky) defeats Frank (USTA) – 12-10
Lacroix (Florida) defeats Andrews (Cal) – 10-3
Semifinals
Quigley (Kentucky) defeats Nevolo (Illinois) – 10-5
Lacroix (Florida) defeats Musialek (Kentucky) – 10-6
Championships
Lacroix (Florida) defeats Quigley (Kentucky) – 10-6
