Feb. 1, 1998

Cavaliers Lose Close Match to Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Virginia men's tennis team lost its first match of the year with a narrow 4-3 decision to Michigan at the U-M Varsity Tennis Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Cavaliers, who defeated Ball State 6-1 late Saturday night, fell to 1-1 on the season, while Michigan is now 1-0. The meeting between the two schools was the first in 13 years and only the second since 1948.

The outcome of the match came down to the doubles as the Cavaliers and Wolverines each won three singles matches, knotting the score at three heading into the doubles action.

In doubles, Virginia's No. 1 tandem of Justin Smith and John Winter defeated Brook Blain and Arvid Swan 8-4. But the homestanding Wolverines rebounded to take the doubles point and win the match, 4-3, as they won the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches. Matt Wright and Jake Raiton teamed at No. 2 to defeat Virginia freshmen Huntley Montgomery and Brian Vahaly 8-6. Miki Pusztai and William Farah won their match 9-8 in a 7-0 tie-breaker.

The Cavaliers got singles wins from Montgomery at No. 3, Vahaly at No. 4 and Winter at No. 6.

The Cavaliers return to action with a doubleheader next Saturday (Feb. 7) when they face George Washington and Georgetown in Richmond, Va. The first match is scheduled to begin at noon.

Following are match-by-match results.

Singles 
No. 1 - David Paradzik (Michigan) d. Bear Schofield,    6-3, 6-1 
No. 2 - Matt Wright (Michigan) d. Hyon Yoo,             6-2, 6-4 
No. 3 - Huntley Montgomery (Virginia) d. Brook Blain,   7-5, 6-7, 7-5 
No. 4 - Brian Vahaly (Virginia) d. Arvid Swan,          6-2, 7-5 
No. 5 - William Farah (Michigan) d. Justin Smith,       6-4, 6-1 
No. 6 - John Winter (Virginia) d. Jake Raiton,          7-6, 7-6 
Doubles 
No. 1 - Smith/Winter (Virginia) d. Blain/Swan,          8-4 
No. 2 - Wright/Raiton (Michigan) d. Montgomery/Vahaly,  8-6 
No. 3 - Miki Pusztai/Farah (Michigan) d. Schofield/Yoo, 9-8 (7)