Tweet

NORFOLK, Va. – Virginia Tech enjoyed a big second day at the Wilson/ITA Atlantic Regional Championships on Friday by advancing five singles players into the Round of 16 and one doubles team into the quarterfinals. The event, hosted by Old Dominion University, features some of the top players in the nation and is being held at the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center. The Atlantic Regional is one of 12 regional events nationally as players battle for a spot at the ITA National Indoor Championships, Nov. 5-8, in New Haven, Conn. The two singles finalists and the winning doubles team will advance to the national tournament.

On a day full of big wins for the Hokies, Tech newcomer Will Beck (Jr., Potomac, Md.) continued his impressive play in his first match of the day by upsetting No. 12 seed and 103rd-ranked Ivan Salec (Radford), 6-2, 6-1, before posting a, 7-6 (5), 6-3, win over No. 21 seed Fredi Vooman (UMBC). Beck next faces another big challenge on Saturday at 10 a.m. against No. 8 seed and 84th-ranked Drew Courtney (Virginia).

Another Tech player making his presence known is Corrado Degli Incerti Tocci (So., Reggio Emilia, Italy) who upset 21st-seeded Chris Kushman (George Washington), 6-1, 6-0, then easily handled Flip Svensson (Virginia Commonwealth), 6-3, 6-1. Next up to Tocci is a 10 a.m. Round of 16 match on Saturday versus teammate Patrick Daciek who advanced with two wins on Friday. Daciek (So., Severna Park, Md.), seeded No. 7 and ranked 61st nationally, defeated Charlie Caris (Georgetown), 6-4, 6-4, then crushed No. 13 seed Steven Rooda (Virginia), 6-1, 6-1.

Tech’s top player entering the event, Yoann Re (Sr., Verdun, Quebec, Canada), seeded No. 3 and ranked 35th in the nation, easily won both of his Friday matches defeating Kris Muzaleski (Old Dominon), 6-1, 6-3, then eliminated No. 21 seed Owen Bullard (Navy), 6-1, 6-0. Re will play No. 9 seed and 88th-ranked Thiart Charron (Virginia Commonwealth) in another Round of 16 contest Saturday at 10 a.m. Luka Somen (So., Karlovac, Croatia), seeded No. 14 and ranked 125th nationally, defeated Marcus Rebersak (Navy), 6-1, 6-1, in his first match then took care of No. 21 seed Mike Smith (James Madison), 6-4, 6-1. Somen will play No. 16 seed Jamere Jenkins (Penn State) Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Pine brothers, Jon and Zach, saw action Friday on their 20th birthday. Jon (So., Vienna, Va.) upset No. 21 seed Ugur Atalay (George Washington), 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, but was ousted by the tournament’s top seed and ninth-ranked Sanam Singh (Virginia), 6-3, 6-2. Zach (So., Vienna, Va.) dropped his first match, 6-3, 6-3, to another No. 21 seed, Ryan Gormley (Penn State). Sebastien Jacques (Jr., Magog, Quebec, Canada), seeded No. 15, suffered a, 6-3, 6-4, upset loss to Igor Ogrizek (Radford).

In doubles, Somen/Tocci, the No. 8 seeds defeated the No. 9 seeds, Matt King/Mike Smith (James Madison), 8-5, and will play No. 4 seed Keziel Juneau/Sebastien Vidal (William & Mary) Saturday in the quaterfinals. The Hokies other two doubles teams were eliminated as Beck/Daciek, seeded No. 9, lost, 8-6, against No. 3 seeds of Drew Courtney/Lee Singer (Virginia) and Jacques/Re, seeded fifth, were upset, 8-4, by the ninth-seeded duo of Ryan Gormley/Warren Hardie (Penn State).

Saturday’s schedule includes two rounds of singles and one round of doubles. The event continues through Monday with results available at www.odusports.com

For updates on Virginia Tech men's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_MTennis).