Huskies' magic run continues

By Ben Miller

May 16, 2005, 12:00 AM

The Washington men's tennis team advanced to the Sweet 16 with two victories over the weekend in the NCAA regionals. The 12th-ranked Huskies are in round 16 for the fourth time in five years after escaping with a tough 4-3 victory over No. 21 USC on Saturday. In doubles play, the UW came out playing well as the combination of Alex Vlaski and Christoph Palmanshofer defeated Drew Hoskins and Adam Loucks 8-2. The doubles point was clinched when the No. 18 Daniel Chu and Alex Slovic dispatched No. 35 Jamil Al-Agba and Johan Berg 8-3. "Our doubles were fantastic today," coach Matt Anger said. "Looking back on it, the way that they came out and played with their depth, we needed that doubles point. If we hadn't had that doubles point and they came out playing that way, we wouldn't have been able to turn around that momentum." In singles play, the Trojans came out tough, winning at No. 5 and No. 6 singles in straight sets to grab a 2-1 lead. However, No. 65 Palmanshofer defeated No. 55 Hoskins 6-4, 6-4 shortly thereafter to even the match. After Chu fell to Kaes Van't Hof 6-3, 7-6, the Huskies needed victories from both Vlaski and Slovic to clinch the match. Sixth-ranked Vlaski clinched first as he pulled a three-set victory over No. 19 Al-Agba 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. No. 44 Slovic came back from being down by a set to defeat Berg 6-7, 6-2, 7-5 to win the match and advance in the tournament. "I'm exhilarated and relieved," Anger said about advancing back to the Sweet 16. "The guys up here at the top, those two Serbians just pulling it out. Alex Slovic was not playing his best tennis, and I think both guys were struggling out there and they were just hanging it in there." On Friday, the victory came much easier as the Huskies swept Oral Roberts 4-0 in the first round of play in the NCAA tournament. The match was highlighted by the play of sophomore Mike Ricks as he picked up his first two career NCAA tournament victories. "It was a lot of fun to get my first two wins in the NCAAs," he said. "It is not easy with everyone playing so well because they call the match as soon as it is done so you have to win quick." Ricks teamed up with freshman Andy Kuharszky to defeat Craig Dunne and Clemens Geercken 8-3 to clinch the doubles point for the Huskies. In singles, Ricks won in straight sets against Adam Ehrlich 6-1, 6-1. Slovic also had an easy victory in singles play as he dispatched Quan Farquhasen 6-1, 6-0. Washington will return to action in College Station, Texas, facing No. 2 seeded Virginia in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

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