University of the District of Columbia Men's Tennis Improves to 5-0; Firebirds Soar Past PhilaU

WASHINGTON, DC - The University of the District of Columbia men's tennis team swept all three doubles matches and all six singles matches en-route to a resounding, 9-0 win over regional foe, Philadelphia University on Saturday afternoon at Southeast Tennis and Learning Center.

Junior Bruno Reich (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Colegio Tempo de Aprender) was particularly impressive at No. 3 singles, winning in straight sets (6-0, 6-0) at No. 3 singles over PhilaU's Kyle Burke. Also, team captain Tomas Gajdusek (Prague, Czech Republic - Gymnazium Nad Stolou) won his No. 2 singles match in exciting fashion, rallying from a 2-5 deficit to win in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1.

In other singles action, Aleksandar Grabovac earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles for the Firebirds' first singles win of the match. Reich and Gajdusek followed with wins at No. 3 and 2, respectively, and then Carlos Quiroga (Valencia, Venezuela - Maria Montessori) took down Nail Rachidi, 8-1 at the sixth spot. Miguel Uzcategui (Valencia, Venezuela - Colegio Sagrado Corazon) and Simon Andersson (Ystad, Sweden- Sydskanska Gymnasiet) completed the sweep with wins at No. 4 and 5.

The Firebirds also earned three hard-fought victories in doubles play. First, UDC's No. 1 tandem of Grabovac and Andersson defeated PhilaU's Burke and Manoli Sgouros, 8-5. Then, Uzcategui and Quiroga needed extended play to beat Ryan Christopher and Rachidi, 9-7 at the third flight. Gajdusek and Bruno completed the sweep with an 8-6 win over Eric Guerrero and Adrian Torroella-Cruz in the No. 2 doubles match.

Next up, the Firebirds (5-0) visit crosstown foe Howard University on Thursday,  March 1st at 2:00 p.m.