Dons Open Fall Season At Bulldog Classic

USF advances six singles to at least the quarterfinals


Fresno, Calif.) - The USF men's tennis team opened the 2009 fall season this weekend at the Bulldog Classic in Fresno. The event was successful for the Dons, who had six singles and a doubles team advance to at least the quarterfinals of each bracket.

In the singles Flight A bracket, newcomer Thai Tu earned a bye in the round of 32, before posting three-set victories in the round of 16 and the quarterfinals. In the round of 16, the sophomore posted a 4-6, 7-5 6-1 defeat of Riki McLachlan from Cal before downing Frenso State's Botillier 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Tu's run fell short though, as he lost to eventual champion Rikus DeVilliers of FSU, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2.

In the Flight B bracket, three Dons advanced to the round of 16, but just one USF player advanced further. Rainer Nachbauer, Jacob Hartwig and Einar Hart each advanced to the round of 16, with just Nachbauer advancing on. Hartwin posted a three-set 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (3) victory over Sho Hugichi of Oregon in the opening round before dropping a straight-set 6-2, 6-1 match to Matheiu Forget of UC Santa Barbara in the round of 16. Hart posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Gabe Kanzelmeyer of Nevada, before falling 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Chris Aria of UC Davis in the second round. Nachbauer earned a spot in the round of 16 by virtue of a bye, before advancing to the quarterfinals with a defeat due to injury in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Nachbauer feel 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 to Taylor Leiby of Fresno State.

Ola Bakke fell in the opening round of the Flight B, but advanced to the semifinals of the consolation bracket, thanks to a straight set 6-2, 6-3 victory over Kristian Kuharszky of Nevada.
In Flight C, Will Schumaker highlighted the Dons' efforts advancing to the Finals. The freshman posted a 6-3, 6-2 opening round victory over Jack Horowitz of UC Davis, before defeating Robert Zacks of Cal Poly 6-3, 7-6. In the Semifinals, Schumaker defeated Somach of Oregon 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 before falling in the championship to Max Glenn 6-1, 4-6, 4-3, ret.

In doubles action, the Dons' Mark DeCastro and Schumaker advanced to the semifinals of the B Flight. Also in action in the flight were the San Francisco doubles teams of Kotlyar/Peder Steen and Hart/Nachbauer.

USF will take to the courts again this weekend as they travel to Tiburon for the TPC Challenge.

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