TULSA, Okla. – The Wildcats had a successful first day out at the ITA Men's All-American Championships at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, as three of the four Cats competing in the pre-qualifying round won their first matches on Saturday.
“Today was a nice start to the tournament,” said head coach Tad Berkowitz. “Tomorrow is a great opportunity for the guys to keep it rolling.”
Trent Botha looked strong as he got thing started for Arizona with a convincing straight-set 6-4, 6-0 win against Ben Clark from Drake University. Botha moves on to the round of 128 tomorrow and will face Vasco Valverde from the University of San Francisco.
Oliver Plaskett kept the strong play rolling for the Cats. Plaskett dropped the first set to Louis Asser from the University of Memphis 6-4, but quickly regrouped himself to dominate the final two sets 6-1, 6-2. Plaskett grinded out the three set victory by a final score of 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to move on to the next round of play where he will face Jorge Escuita from New Mexico.
Senior Jason Jaruvang remained perfect on the season as he defeated Alvaro Santamaria from Oral Roberts in three sets. Jaruvang lost the first set to Santamaria 6-2, but was able to turn the match around and take the second and third sets 6-3, 6-3. Jaruvang took the match by a final of 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the round of 128 to play Michael Feucht from Lamar, and moves to 9-0 on the season in singles and doubles play combined.
Harry Busby fought hard, but fell in a tightly contested three-set match to Howard Scott from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Scott took the first set 6-3, but Busby was able to fight back and win the second set 6-4. Scott took the match with a close 6-4 third set victory for a final score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Busby moves to the consolation bracket where he will face Adrian Chamdani from Duke.
Play at the All-American Championships continues tomorrow with the round of 128 action.
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