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Men's Tennis Opens 2007-08 Season at UVa Fall Invitational
Sept. 18, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The George Washington University men's tennis team began their 2007-2008 campaign at the three-day UVa Fall Invitational, held over the weekend in Charlottesville, VA.
"Overall, it was a strong showing for GW's young players," said head coach Greg Munoz, speaking of the two freshman that made the trip, Erik Hannah and Chris Kushma, and sophomore Ryan Schlachter.
Also competing at the invitational was GW's No. 1 player, Mustafa Gencsoy (Istanbul, Turkey/Ayazaga Isik). The senior opened play in the red singles draw, playing Virginia's Somdev Devvarman, the number one player in the country. Devvarman was too much for Gencsoy, winning 6-1, 6-3, as he went on to win the draw's single title. Dating back to last season, the reigning NCAA Singles Champion has now won 20 consecutive matches. Devvarman also becomes the first player to win a singles title at the tournament in four consecutive years.
Gencsoy went on to defeat Alex Birchmeier from Western Michigan, 6-3, 6-2, in the back draw, before falling to Stetson's Marcus Echtler (7-6, 6-7, 10-5), ranked 50th in the nation.
The two freshmen, Hannah and Kushma, along with Schlachter, were all victorious in their first round matches. Hannah downed Duke's Christopher Price 6-1, 6-3, and then also defeated Chros Sherman of Penn State, 6-4, 7-6, before falling in the semi-finals to Michael Calderone of Western Michigan, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4.
Kushma also made it to the semi-finals, where Columbia's Kevin King overpowered him, 6-1, 6-2. Kushma earned victories over Christopher Swanteson (Stetson), 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-5, and Billy Heird, 7-6(8), 6-2.
Schlachter began his GW career with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Elon's Cody Stauffer-MacDowell.
The GW tennis team continues its fall schedule this weekend, when they participate in the Metro Tournament, hosted by Georgetown University.
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George Washington finished the 2006-07 season 13-15 overall, and earned a third-place finish at the Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Championship.
- GW -
