Saturday, January 24, 2004

RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 24, 2004) - The East Tennessee State University men's tennis team opened its 2004 spring schedule with a split Saturday on the first day of the annual VCU 4-1 Invitational at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The Buccaneers took a 3-2 victory over Campbell, thanks to singles wins by senior Alejandro Salazar (Arequipa, Peru), senior Diego Iglesias (Mar del Plata, Argentina) and sophomore Fernando Fiuri (Villa Maria, Argentina). ETSU's Felix Insurraulde (Paraguay) and Moises Serrano (Bucaramanga, Colombia) then battled to a hard-fought 6-7, 7-3, 11-9 loss in doubles play. Against No.14-ranked Virginia Commonwealth, the Buccaneers held their own against one of the nation's best squad. While Salazar managed the Bucs only singles victory in a 4-1 loss, battling to defeat Florian Marquardt, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. Fiuri forced a three-set loss to Francese Lleal in singles play, and Iglesias and Serrano played well in a 6-7, 4-6 loss to Pedro Nieto and Marton Ott. "We took VCU to the wire," said head coach Yaser Zaatini. "I believe that we had a really good chance of beating the 14th ranked team in the nation." The Buccaneers will return to action at the VCU 4-1 Invitational today. ETSU 3, Campbell 2 Singles Jiri Beranek (CU) def. Oscar Posada (ETSU), 6-3, 6-4 Alejandro Salazar (ETSU) def. Florent Wilpotte (CU), 6-4, 6-1 Diego Iglesias (ETSU) def. Zorick Tolstan (CU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 Fernando Fuiri (ETSU) def. Carlos Campo (CU), 6-4, 7-6 Doubles Martin Parkes/Sergio Tejada (CU) def. Felix Insurraulde/Moises Serrano (ETSU), 6-7, 6-3, 11-9 VCU 4, ETSU 1 Singles Arnaud LeClourec (VCU) def. Oscar Posada (ETSU), 7-6, 6-3 Alejandro Salazar (ETSU) def. Florian Marquardt (VCU), 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 Francese Lleal (VCU) def. Fernando Fiuri (ETSU), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 Sergi Arumi (VCU) def. Felix Insurraulde (ETSU), 6-4, 6-3 Doubles Pedro Nieto/Marton Ott (VCU) def. Diego Iglesias/Moises Serrano (ETSU), 7-6, 6-4