May 26, 2010

ATHENS, Ga. – A pair of University of Kentucky men’s tennis sophomores met different fates at the NCAA Singles Championships on Wednesday when Eric Quigley (Pewee Valley, Ky.) advanced and Alex Musialek (Dax, France) lost in first-round action at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.

Quigley, who is listed among the top 16 seeds in the tournament and owns a No. 12 listing in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings , posted a straight-sets, 7-5, 6-4, win over 20th-ranked Ed Corrie of Texas. The victory is Quigley’s 12th in his last 13 completed singles matches.

Musialek, who entered the tournament ranked No. 49 nationally, dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision to No. 46 Drew Courtney of Virginia Wednesday evening. It marked Musialek’s first loss in seven completed singles matches dating back to April 9.

Quigley advances to play No. 47 Dennis Nevolo of Illinois in second-round action Thursday at 10 a.m. EST. Nevelo defeated Jose Hernandez of North Carolina, 7-6, 0-6, 6-4 on Wednesday. Quigley and Nevelo squared off when Kentucky and Illinois met in the consolation bracket of the National Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va., on Feb. 13. Quigley won the highly competitive match, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).

The UK tandem of Quigley and junior Brad Cox (Duluth, Ga.), ranked No. 22, will compete in first-round play of the NCAA Doubles Championships beginning Thursday. The duo will battle Tulsa’s 24th-ranked pair of Philip Stephens and Ashley Watling at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Quigley and Musialek are making their first appearances at the singles tournament. Cox is making his third appearance at the doubles tournament, the most by a UK tennis player in school history. Cox teamed with former Wildcat Bruno Agostinelli each of the past two seasons, losing first-round matches on both occasions.

The Wildcats are one of only three Southeastern Conference teams (along with Tennessee and South Carolina) and one of 15 schools in the nation to send multiple players to the singles tournament.

Kentucky registered a standout 2010 campaign, earning the program’s winningest season in school history with 25 victories. UK made its fourth Sweet 16 appearance at the NCAA Championships, losing 4-0 to eventual national champion Southern California on May 21.

Live scoring for the singles and doubles tournament is available at UKAthletics.com.