Firebirds Upset Queens in Battle of Top-10 East Region Ranked Teams on Senior Day
WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's tennis team earned a very impressive, 6-3 victory over East Coast Conference foe Queens College in a battle of two top-10 ranked teams in the East Region. The Firebirds also honored their three seniors, Miguel Uzcategui, Ike Kiro and Carlos Quiroga.
The Firebirds, ranked No. 9 in the latest NCAA East Region poll which came out this week, improved to 8-5 overall and 4-2 in the ECC. The Knights, ranked No. 7 in that poll, fell to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in league play with their second straight loss.
UDC claimed a 2-1 lead after doubles play, as Quiroga and freshman Drew Stewart cruised past Adam Pizow and Howard Wong, 8-1 at No. 3 doubles and junior Simon Andersson and freshman Simon Jackermeier gutted out a pivotal, 9-7 victory over Younes Hidass and Kevin Burgess at No. 2. In between those two victories, Queens' Andre Pellegrino and Christopher Baron teamed up for an 8-4 victory at No. 1 over Uzcategui and Kiro.
In singles play, Quiroga and Uzcategui capped outstanding four-year Firebird careers with back-to-back singles wins at No. 5 and No. 1. First, Quiroga defeated Pizow, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5, followed by Uzcategui earning a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the top spot over Hidass.
Sealing the match victory was Andersson, who battled once more with Burgess for an exciting, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory at No. 4. Stewart added a resounding, 6-0, 6-0 win over Wong at No. 6 singles for good measure.
Queens would close out the match with victories at No. 3 and No. 2 singles, respectively.
The Firebirds will close out the regular season with a road match in Philadelphia vs. the No. 3 ranked team in the East Region, Chestnut Hill on Thursday, April 24th.