May 13, 2006
WACO, Texas - Baylor's men's tennis team raced to a 4-0 win over Texas Southern in the first round of the NCAA Championships in action at the Baylor Tennis Center on Saturday morning.
No. 4 Baylor, the championship's No. 5 seed, raised its record to 22-6 while Texas Southern saw its season end at 14-11. The Bears will now face the Middle Tennessee/Tulsa winner in second round action at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Waco. Baylor advanced to the NCAA's second round for the fifth straight year and seventh overall.
David Galic and Will Ward got a doubles victory for the Bears when they streaked out to a 5-0 lead at the No. 2 spot then cruised to an 8-1 win. Matt Brown and Matija Zgaga, clinched the doubles point for Baylor when they posted an 8-3 triumph at court one. BU's Lars Poerschke and Vladimir Portnov were leading at No. 3 doubles, 6-3, when play was suspended.
Ward got his second win of the day with a quick decision over Jorge Williams (6-0, 6-2) at No. 3 singles. Lars Poerschke, ranked No. 4 nationally, claimed a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Ivan Avila at No. 1 singles. Freshman Matt Brown, playing his first match of the season at the No. 4 spot, defeated Francisco Riveroll 6-1, 6-2 to seal the win for Baylor.
"Our guys were focused and we got off to a quick start. Now we get a chance to take some time and get ready to play tomorrow," said head coach Matt Knoll. "The committee didn't do us any favors with our second round team. Middle Tennessee and Tulsa are both good teams."
#4 Baylor 4, Texas Southern 0
Doubles
Order of finish: 2, 1
1. Matt Brown/Matija Zgaga (BU) def. Francisco Riveroll/Jorge Williams (TSU) 8-3
2. David Galic/Will Ward (BU) def. Mateusz Wodzinski/Kurt Gattiker (TSU) 8-1
3. Lars Poerschke/Vladimir Portnov (BU) vs. Ivan Avila/Frank Suarez (TSU) DNF
Singles
Order finish: 3, 1, 4
1. #4 Lars Poerschke (BU) def. Ivan Avila (TSU) 6-0, 6-1
2. #65 Matija Zgaga (BU) vs. Frank Suarez (TSU) DNF
3. Will Ward (BU) def. Jorge Williams (TSU) 6-0, 6-2
4. #124 Matt Brown (BU) def. Francisco Riveroll (TSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Vladimir Portnov (BU) vs. Mateusz Wodzinski (TSU) DNF
6. David Galic (BU) vs. Kurt Gattiker (TSU) DNF
