May 27, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. – University of Kentucky sophomore Eric Quigley (Pewee Valley, Ky.) won his second-round singles match before teaming with junior Brad Cox (Duluth, Ga.) to post a first-round doubles victory Thursday at the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
In singles play, 12th-ranked Quigley claimed his second straight sets win in as many rounds with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over No. 47 Dennis Nevolo of Illinois in the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship. On Wednesday, Quigley defeated 20th-ranked Ed Corrie of Texas, 7-5, 6-4.
Quigley and Cox, ranked No. 22 in the nation, began play in the NCAA Doubles Championships on Thursday afternoon by registering a first-round win over No. 24 Philip Stephens and Ashley Watling of Tulsa, 6-3, 7-5.
Quilgey’s singles victory is his 13th win in his last 14 completed matches dating back to the start of April. Quigley’s win total as a sophomore – 42, including tournaments and matches played in both the fall and spring seasons – is one shy of former UK great Jesse Witten for the most in an academic year. Witten compiled 43 victories during his freshman year (2004-05).
The victory over Nevolo was Quigley’s third against the Illinois sophomore this spring. Quigley posted a three-set, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) win at the National Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va., on Feb. 13. The two met again in Lexington, Ky., on April 7 with Quigley earning a 6-4, 7-5 win.
Quigley, who is listed among the top 16 seeds in the tournament, will face No. 49 Marcel Thiemann of Ole Miss in the Sweet 16 on Friday at 10 a.m. EST. Thiemann defeated Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 on Thursday. Quigley and Thiemann have split a pair of previous meetings. Quigley defeated Thiemann 6-4, 6-4 in Lexington on March 7. Thiemann answered with a 6-4, 6-2 win in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Championship in Lexington on April 23.
The Quigley-Cox duo will play the Texas duo of Dimitar Kutrovsky and Josh Zavala in Sweet 16 action Friday at 2 p.m. EST. The Longhorn pair defeated Bassam Beidas and Alex Llompart of Pepperdine 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday. Kutrovsky-Zavala entered the doubles tournament ranked sixth in the nation and is listed among the top eight seeds.
Quigley and Alex Musialek (Dax, France), who lost his first-round match against No. 46 Drew Courtney of Virginia (6-1, 6-3) on Wednesday, 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.
