University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Advance With 4-0 Win over Maryland-Baltimore County; Face Winner of Ohio State-VCU Sunday
5/12/2001
KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee won its NCAA first round match Saturday 4-0 over Maryland-Baltimore County at the Varsity Courts on the UT campus. The Vols advance to meet the winner of the Ohio St.-Virginia Commonwealth match Sunday at 1 p.m.
"It is always tough playing the champion of another conference," Tennessee head coach Michael Fancutt said. "We did not know too much about them, but we did well and I am happy we are advancing."
The Vols (19-5) made quick work of the Retrievers in doubles, winning the first two completed matches by identical 8-0 scores to take the doubles point.
Tennessee's Mario Toledo and Simon Rea started the scoring by defeating Mikhail Kouznetsov and Luis Baraldi in the No. 3 match. The Vol tandem of Mark Parsons and Adam Carey then clinched the doubles point with a win in the No. 2 match over Nikhil Misra and Chris Cetateanu. The victory marked Carey and Parsons seventh clinching point of the season. The win kept intact Tennessee's undefeated record when taking the doubles point.
The Vols continued to dominate in the singles segment as they won the first three completed matches to finish off the Retrievers (10-5). Tennessee freshman Wade Orr started the scoring for the Vols in singles, winning his No. 6 match over UMBC's Vincent Granito 6-0, 6-0. Tennessee senior Paul Podbury (No. 95) then defeated Dimitri Bondar 6-2, 6-0 in the No. 4 match. Junior Mario Toledo then clinched the match for the Vols with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Mikhail Kouznetsov in the No. 2 match.
"Mario (Toledo) played really well," Fancutt said. "He (Toledo) looks like he is in the form that he was earlier in the year. I am also really proud of Wade Orr. He is playing well right now and it is really reassuring when I know that I can put him in the lineup and not have to worry about it."
The Vols will meet the Ohio St.-VCU winner Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Varsity Tennis Center on the UT campus. The Winner of Sunday's match will advance to Athens, Ga. for the round of 16.
