Charlottesville, Va. – A record number of UMBC men's tennis players are seeded in the 2014 ITA Atlantic Regionals and several Retrievers advanced to the second round at the first day of competition from the University of Virginia.
Juniors Justin Carter (Randallstown, Md.), seeded 9-16 and Melker Svard (Gothernburg, Sweden), seeded 17-32, had first-round byes in the main draw and will compete in the Round of 64 on Saturday. Junior Jaan Kononov (Talinn, Estonia) was also seeded, but had to withdraw from the competition.
Two of the three Retrievers in singles action on Friday advanced to the Round of 64. Junior Alex Drean (Bayonne, France) cruised past Duquesne's Richie Robbie, 6-1, 6-1 and will take on Penn State's Alex Fennell on Saturday. Classmate Eliott Loubatie (Paris, France) also won in straight sets, defeating George Mason's Tanner Baine, 6-2, 6-3.
Senior Daniel Gray (Bowie, Md./The Bullis School) waged a tough battle with Virginia Tech's Rafael Ribas, but wound up on the short end of a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 decision.
But Gray combined with Drean as the seventh-seeded doubles duo to advance to the Round of 16. After a first-round bye, the tandem edged the Navy duo of Pecor/Daniel, 8-5 and will face Liberty's Samaii/Azuero on Saturday.
Carter and Drean, seeded sixth in doubles, fell to Nicoud/Gomez of Virginia Tech, 8-3.
