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BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech’s men’s tennis team came out focused and rolled to an impressive, 7-0, victory over No. 23 Rice Friday evening at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center on the Virginia Tech campus. Tech improved to 5-1 with the win, while Rice fell to 5-2 on the young season. The victory sets up a showdown with arch-rival and top-ranked Virginia on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Tech, ranked No. 19 nationally which is the highest ranking in the history of the program, won two of three tightly contested doubles matches for the first point of the day and took all of the six singles contests for the victory.

In singles, Yoann Re (Sr., Verdun, Quebec, Canada), ranked No. 47 nationally, absolutely dominated 16th-ranked Bruno Rosa with a, 6-0, 6-1, win at No. 1 to give the Hokies a 2-0 lead. Tech increased the lead to 3-0 as Will Beck (Jr., Potomac, Md.) won his No. 5 contest, 6-3, 6-4, over Sam Garforth-Bles. Tech clinched to win as Sebastien Jacques (Jr., Magog, Quebec, Canada) took the No. 6 match, 6-2, 7-6 (2), against Christian Sarvia.

In other singles results, Luka Somen (So., Karlovac, Croatia), ranked No. 81 nationally, won his No. 2 match, 7-5, 7-5, over No. 116 Oscar Podlweski, Patrick Daciek (So., Severna Park, Md.) took a, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (5), decision at No. 4 versus Isamu Tachibana and Corrado Degl’ Incerti Tocci (So., Reggio Emilia, Italy) came from behind to complete the sweep at No. 3 with a 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, win against Michael Nusslein.

Tech won the No. 1 doubles match as Beck/Daciek upset 51st-ranked Podlewski/Rosa, 8-6, and Somen/Tocci defeated Jonathan Chang/Tachibana, 8-6, in the No. 3 match. Rice won the No. 2 match as Re/Jacques fell, 8-6, to Nusselin/Saravia.

The Hokies return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 23, hosting No. 1 Virginia in a 5 p.m. match at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center on the Virginia Tech campus. The Cavaliers only loss this season was to then 14th-ranked Kentucky, 4-3, a team the Hokies defeated, 5-2, to open the dual match season.

Admission to Tuesday’s match is free and concessions will be available. The match is Faculty/Staff day with all Virginia Tech Faculty and Staff members invited to attend the contest and sign in at the marketing table for a chance to win the “Hokie Track of the Month.” The first 50 fans in attendance will receive a free pair of VT flip flops.

#19 Virginia Tech 7, #23 Rice 0
Singles
1. #47 Yoann Re (VT) def. #16 Bruno Rosa (Rice) 6-0, 6-1
2. #81 Luka Somen (VT) def. #116 Oscar Podlweski (Rice) 7-5, 7-5
3. Corrado Degl’ Incerti Tocci (VT) def. Michael Nusslein (Rice) 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4
4. Patrick Daciek (VT) def. Isamu Tachibana (Rice) 3-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (5)
5. Will Beck (VT) def. Sam Garforth-Bles (Rice) 6-3, 6-4
6. Sebastien Jacques (VT) def. Christian Sarvia (Rice ) 6-2, 7-6 (2)
Order of finish: 1, 5, 6*, 2, 4, 3

Doubles
1. Beck/Daciek (VT) def. #51 Pollewski/Rosa (Rice) 8-6
2. Nusselin/Saravia (Rice) def. Jacques/Re (VT) 8-6
3. Somen/Tocci (VT) def. Jonathan Chang/Tachibana (Rice) 8-6
Order of finish: 3,1*, 2

* clinching point

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