Temple University Athletics
Choi Leads Men's Tennis at University of South Carolina Invite
10.15.07 | Men's Tennis
Oct. 15, 2007
COLUMBIA, SC -- Freshmen Andrew Choi continued his impressive start, leading the men's tennis team over the weekend at the South Carolina Invite. Choi won one singles match and one doubles match during the competition.
In singles play, Choi defeated Tennessee-Chattanooga's Rick van de Bovenkamp, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, in the first round of B-4 singles to record the third victory of his young career. Choi would advance to the second round, where he would fall to Gardner-Webb's Ryan Bernthal, 6-4, 6-4. Choi and senior Zack Tobias were victorious in first round doubles play, topping Alexander Greer and Damien Snare of UNC-Ashville 8-6.
"Andrew really played well for us this weekend," said head coach Steve Mauro. "It is very impressive considering he is only a freshmen."
In other singles play, junior Eduardo Saavedra topped College of Charleston's Joe Nicolazzi, 7-6, 0-6, 7-6, in the first round of A/B singles. Saavedra advanced to the second round, eventually falling to Arkansas's Nick Spinazze, 6-3, 6-1. Also victorious for the Owls was junior Rob Spencer, who defeated Arkansas's Cody Simpson, 6-1, 6-4, in B-3 singles consolation play.
Sophomore Pavolos Stephanides, Tobias and junior Ricardo Velazquez all played well against tough competiton, but all three went 0-2 in tournament singles play. One of Velazquez's losses came to Charlotte's Roy Sichel, the tournament's top seeded player.
In doubles action, the pair of Stephanides and Spencer dropped a first round match to Presbyterian, 8-0. Also losing in the first round were the pair of Saaverda and Velazquez, who fell to South Carolina State, 8-0.
The Owls next hit the courts Thursday, October 18 when they travel to Princeton for the ITA Championships. Play begins on Thursday and will finish on Sunday, October 21.
