Kentucky men?s tennis got off to another successful start by picking up five singles victories at the Virginia Fall Invitational in Charlottesville, Va. The Wildcats were led by seniors Nate Emge and Alex Hume, who advanced to the third round of main draw competition.
The 68th-ranked Hume defeated Eric Hechtman of Miami, Fla., in the second round after receiving a first round bye. Hume dropped the first set 4-6, before rallying to win the match 6-0, 6-4. Hume now has won four consecutive matches after dropping his season opener last Friday.
Emge, the 94th-ranked player in the nation, continued his strong early season play by picking up his third victory of the year against Marco Born of Middle Tennessee in straight sets 6-2, 7-6.
Three other Wildcats notched victories in the first round before exiting in the second round.
Freshman Bruno Agostinelli, last week?s winner of the men?s A2 singles flight bracket at the Middle Tennessee Invitational, scored a straight sets victory over Alabama?s Javier Bes 6-0, 6-1. The victory marked Agostinelli?s fifth straight to begin his collegiate career. Agostinelli moved on to the second round where he was beaten by Miami?s Josh Cohen 6-3, 6-0.
Fellow freshman Shane Collins, of Louisville, Ky., won his first collegiate match against Maryland?s Michael Coleman in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. Collins dropped his second round match to Alabama?s Billy Mertz 6-0, 6-3.
Senior Carey Rubin also notched his first victory of the year by beating Maryland?s Nickolai Nielsen 6-3, 6-2. In the second round, Rubin fell to Harvard?s Brandon Chiu 6-4, 6-3.
Agostinelli, Collins and Rubin all will move to the consolation bracket for the rest of the weekend.
Rounding out play for UK was freshman Marcus Sundh, of Sweden, and sophomore Kenny Hodge. Sundh fell to Scott Denenberg of Harvard 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round after receiving a first round bye. Hodge lost to William & Mary?s Alexander Zuck 6-2, 6-1 in first round action. Both will play in the consolation bracket.
The tournament will continue Saturday and fans can check ukathletics.com for complete recaps of the day?s action.
UVa Fall Invitational ? Charlottesville, Va.
First Round
Bruno Agostinelli (UK) def. Javier Bes (Ala.) ? 6-1, 6-0
Carey Rubin (UK) def. Nickolai Nielsen (Md.) ? 6-3, 6-2
Shane Collins (UK) def. Michael Coleman (Md.) ? 6-3, 6-4
Alexander Zuck (W&M) def. Kenny Hodge (UK) ? 6-2, 6-1
Second Round
Alex Hume (UK) def. Eric Hechtman (Miami Fla.) ? 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
Nate Emge (UK) def. Marco Born (MT) ? 6-2, 7-6
Josh Cohen (Miami Fla.) def. Bruno Agostinelli (UK) ? 6-3, 6-0
Scott Denenberg (Harvard) def. Marcus Sundh (UK) ? 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Billy Mertz (Ala.) def. Shane Collins (UK) ? 6-0, 6-3
Brandon Chiu (Harvard) def. Carey Rubin (UK) ? 6-4, 6-3
