Chad Harris Advances To Quarterfinals Of NCAA Singles Championships

Chad Harris Advances To Quarterfinals Of NCAA Singles Championships

5/28/2004

Chad Harris Advances To Quarterfinals Of NCAA Singles Championships

TULSA, Okla. — Vanderbilt senior Chad Harris advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Singles Championships with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Izak van der Merwe of Old Dominion at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center Friday. In Saturday’s Round of 8, Harris will face his third consecutive top-25 opponent, No. 20 Gabor Zoltan Pelva of Auburn, at 1 p.m. CT.

With Friday’s win, Harris avenged a March loss to van der Merwe during dual-match play. He will be looking to repeat that feat against Zoltan Pelva, who won a three-set encounter when the Tigers and Commodores faced off during the regular season.

Harris is the first Commodore to advance through three rounds of the NCAA Tournament and reach the quarterfinals. Bobby Reynolds (2000-03) and Chris Groer (1993-96) both were defeated in the Round of 16 during their final seasons at Vanderbilt.

The Southeastern Conference leads the NCAA with three competitors remaining in the final eight. The Atlantic Coast Conference has two, and the Big 12, Conference USA and the Sun Belt also are represented.

Chad Harris at the NCAA Singles Championships
First Round: def. No. 100 Jamie Cerretani (Brown), 6-1, 6-4
Second Round: def. No. 13 Lester Cook (Texas A&M), 7-6, 7-5
Third Round: def. No. 23 Izak van der Merwe (Old Dominion), 6-4, 7-6
Quarterfinals: vs. No. 20 Gabor Zoltan Pelva (Auburn), May 29

NCAA SINGLES QUARTERFINALS
Saturday, May 29
1 p.m.
No. 31 Chad Harris, Vanderbilt vs. No. 20 Gabor Zoltan Pelva, Auburn
No. 15 Benjamin Becker, Baylor vs. No. 12 Hamid Mirzadeh, Florida
2:30 p.m.
No. 5 Phillip King, Duke vs. No. 11 Michael Kogan, Tulane
No. 29 Nicholas Monroe, North Carolina vs. No. 33 Franticek Babej, South Alabama