Cavaliers Top Michigan to Reach NCAA Quarterfinals

Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Dominic Inglot

TULSA, Okla. – Top-seeded Virginia advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year with a 4-0 win over No. 16 Michigan in a Round of 16 match Friday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center. The Cavaliers needed just two-and-a-half hours to dispatch of the Wolverines and win their school-record 31st match of the season.

“This was a great way to start the tournament for us,” said head coach Brian Boland. “We played really well, especially in doubles. We have been working on it a lot and that seems to be paying off. We are really clicking on all cylinders right now.”

The Cavaliers (31-0) grabbed the early 1-0 lead with a dominating doubles performance. At No. 3 doubles, Houston Barrick (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Sanam Singh (Chandigarh, India) cruised to an 8-3 win over Chris Madden and George Navas. Dominic Inglot (London, England) and Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, Va.) broke a 4-4 tie with Jason Jung and Mike Sroczynski by winning the last four games to score an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles and clinch the opening point.

Virginia jumped out to a quick start in singles, winning five of the six first sets. Inglot made the score 2-0 with his 6-3, 6-4 win over Andrew Mazlin at No. 3 singles. Minutes later Shabaz made the score 3-0 as he completed a 6-3, 6-0 win over Madden at No. 5 singles. Treat Huey (Alexandria, Va.) clinched the match for the Cavaliers with his 6-4, 6-2 win over Jung at the No. 2 position. The Cavaliers led in all three matches that were suspended.

“Overall, I thought this was the best we have played as a team all season,” said Boland. “Now we need to keep that going and keep playing better with each match.”

The win was Virginia’s school-record 31st victory of the season, breaking the old mark set last year when the Cavaliers went 30-4 and reach the NCAA Semifinals.

Virginia will meet Baylor match in the quarterfinals Sunday. Match time is set for noon CT (1 p.m. ET). The Cavaliers won the regular season meeting between the teams 7-0 on March 1 at the Boyd Tinsley Courts at the Boar's Head Sports Club.

No. 1 Virginia 4, No. 16 Michigan 0

Doubles:
1. #1 Devvarman/Huey (UVa) led Maravic/Mazlin (UM) 6-5 DNF
2. Shabaz/Inglot (UVa) def. #38 Jung/Sroczynski (UM) 8-4
3. Barrick/Singh (UVa) def. Madden/Navas (UM) 8-3

Singles:
1. #1 Somdev Devvarman (UVa) led #64 Matko Maravic (UM) 7-5, 4-1 DNF
2. #28 Treat Huey (UVa) def. Jason Jung (UM) 6-4, 6-2
3. #17 Dominic Inglot (UVa) def. Andrew Mazlin (UM) 6-3, 6-4
4. Sanam Singh (UVa) led Mike Sroczynski (UM) 3-6, 6-4, 2-0 DNF
5. Michael Shabaz (UVa) def. Chris Madden (UM) 6-3, 6-0
6. Ted Angelinos (UVa) led George Navas (UM) 6-2, 5-4 DNF

Order of Finish: Doubles- 3,2 • Singles- 3,5,2
Records: Virginia (31-0), Michigan (20-7)