Husker Senior Advances to Main Draw of ITA All-American Championships

Lincoln, Neb. - Nebraska senior tennis player Jorge Abos Sanchez advanced to the main draw of the pre-qualifying ITA All-American Championships in Stone Mountain, Ga., at the Lincoln Tennis Center on Tuesday. The pre-qualifying rounds took place over the weekend with the main draw beginning on Tuesday.

Sanchez defeated four players in four rounds to advance to the main draw. In the round of 128, he defeated Chris McRae of Alabama, 6-1, 6-0. He then went on to beat Clemson's Marko Gojanovic and Mississippi State's David Ruiz, 6-1, 6-3, and 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, respectively. In the round of 32, Sanchez defeated Chris Bates of Oklahoma State after Bates retired because of an injury. Sanchez will play Florida Atlantic's Martin Jirak on Tuesday at noon in the main draw tournament.

The Huskers' other main contender was senior Adnan Hadzialic, who won three matches before losing in the round of 32, but may still advance to the main draw as a "lucky loser," according to Head Coach Kerry McDermott. Hadzialic defeated Daniel Lundstom of Northern Arizona who was absent. In the next two rounds, Hadzialic beat out ETSU's Francisco Diaz, 6-1, 6-3, and William and Mary College's Pat Brown, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. During the round of 32, Hadzialic was defeated by Paul Jacobsen of Indiana, 6-3, 7-6.

Other winners for the Huskers included junior Fungai Tongoona and Jose Rivera. Tongoona defeatedBall State's Andy Rector, 7-5, 3-6,6-1, but was stopped by North Carolina State's Ryan Boward, 6-3, 6-2, in the Round of 64.

Rivera was tagged with a win over Noah Schnell of Florida State, who was absent, but lost to Joe Schmulian of Memphis, 6-1, 6-1.

The doubles team of junior Lance Mills and Sanchez were pre-placed in the main draw that will begin Tuesday at noon.

Singles
Round of 128
Jorge Abos Sanchez (NU) d. Chris McRae (Alabama) 6-1, 6-0
Adnan Hadzialic (NU) d. Daniel Lundstrom (N. Arizona) (NS)
Fungai Tongoona (NU) d. Andy Rector (Ball State) 7-5, 6-3, 6-1
Jose Rivera (NU) d. Noah Schnell (Florida State) (NS)
Chris Wettengel (Minnesota) d. Lance Mills (NU) 6-3, 6-4
Rahman Smiley (Indiana) d. Ryan Haith (NU) 6-2, 6-2
Ross Bourne (USD) d. Ryan Jay (NU) 6-0, 6-2
Travis Rettenmuier (UCLA) d. Patrick Kennedy (NU) (ILL)
Henry Beam (Michigan) d. Kyle True (NU) 6-1, 6-1

Round of 64
Jorge Abos Sanchez (NU) d. Marko Gojonovic (Clemson) 6-1, 6-3
Adnan Hadzialic (NU) d. Francisco Diaz (ETSU) 6-1, 6-3
Ryan Boward (N.C. State) d. Fungai Tongoona (NU) 6-3, 6-2
Joe Schmulian (Memphis) d. Jose Rivera (NU) 6-1, 6-1

Round of 32
Jorge Abos Sanchez (NU) d. David Ruiz (Miss. State) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Adnan Hadzialic (NU) d. Pat Brown (William and Mary) 6-4, 6-3

Round of 16
Jorge Abos Sanchez (NU) d. Chris Bates (Oklahoma St.) 6-3, (ret.)
Paul Jacobsen (Indiana) d. Adnan Hadzialic (NU) 6-3, 7-6

Doubles
Round of 32
Tongoona/Rivera (NU) d. Harman/Patrick Churci withdrew
Aron Breziner/Trysten Meniane (North Carolina) d. Hadzialic/Haith (NU) 8-5
Lee Nickell/Patrick Fillnow (Furman) d. True/Kennedy (NU) 8-1

Round of 16
Ferron-Mehon/Lemena (U. of Toledo) d. Tongoona/Rivera (NU) 8-2