HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (April 16, 2008)–Playing without the services of injured leader Will Moss (Fredericksburg, VA/Fredericksburg), the Hampden-Sydney tennis team managed to claim a 9-0 victory over visiting Virginia Wesleyan in the first round of the 2008 ODAC Men's Tennis Tournament. The second-seeded Tigers rode strong performances across the board to eliminate the Marlins (3-12), who were also without the services of their injured ace Steven Wright. The win improves Hampden-Sydney to 13-2 overall and sets up a semifinals rematch with defending conference runner-up Roanoke College (13-7), which defeated No. 6 seed Emory and Henry in its quarterfinal match up.
Because of the injury to its top hitter, Virginia Wesleyan was forced to default its No. 3 doubles match and No. 6 singles match. After Hampden-Sydney's No. 1 doubles team of Rich Pugh (Augusta, GA/Lakeside) and Richie Holzapfel (Hagerstown, MD/St. Maria Goretti) topped VWC's Devin Crosby and Tom Popomaronis, 8-3 and the Tigers' duo of Shad Harrell (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) andZack Pack (Keysville, VA/Randolph-Henry) dispatched of the Marlins' Lee Cebula and Scott Montgomery, 8-1, H-SC had a stronghold on the final result with a 4-0 lead.
Pugh and Harrell each scored easy victories in pro set singles matches, 8-1 and 8-0, respectively. Pack,Tal Covington (Gainesville, VA/Flint Hill School) and Jenks Snyder (Rock Hill, SC/Woodberry Forest) followed suit with straight set singles wins to account for the final 9-0 margin.
With tournament top-seed Washington and Lee slated to host the semifinal round, the Tigers will travel to Lexington, VA to tangle with the No. 3 seed Maroons on Saturday, April 19 at 3 pm. The Generals will host fifth-seeded Guilford College in the first semifinal at 11 am. The winners will battle for the ODAC Championship on Sunday, April 20 at 2 pm.
Singles
1. Rich Pugh (HSC) def. Devin Crosby (VWC): 8-1
2. Shad Harrell (HSC) def. Tom Popomaronis (VWC): 8-0
3. Zack Pack (HSC) def. Lee Cebula (VWC): 6-1, 6-2
4. Tal Covington (HSC) def. Scott Montgomery (VWC): 6-2, 6-1
5. Jenks Snyder (HSC) def. Jamie Griffin (VWC): 6-1, 6-1
6. Default
Doubles
1. Pugh/Holzapfel (HSC) def. Crosby/Popomaronis (VWC): 8-3
2. Harrell/Pack (HSC) def. Cebula/Montgomery (VWC): 8-1
3. Default
