The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Men's Tennis Team Opens Fall Season Friday
9/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 18, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's tennis team will begin its fall season this weekend when the Blazers take part in the 25th annual Baras Fall Classic at Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nearly 200 players from 19 schools will take part in the tournament that runs Friday and continues through Sunday at the Champions Club.
There will be six singles brackets and three doubles brackets in both the men's and women's draws.
UAB will send seven players to the tournament, including a pair of performers in the A1 singles bracket in senior Brian Ly and freshman Daniel Moser. Ly is the top seed in his division and will receive a first round bye. Moser, a highly-touted product of New Zealand, will play his first collegiate match against Joao Pallielo of Belmont Friday morning.
The Blazers will also be represented by Tyrone Ewels and Dan Cornei in the A2 Division. Cornei, the No. 2 seed, will have a bye in the opening round while Ewels plays Mario Hernandez of Longwood in first round action Friday.
Alex Emery and Thomas Petrich will compete for UAB in the B1 singles bracket. Emery meets Stefan Solomon of Jacksonville State Friday in his first round match while Petrich, seeded third, takes on Chris Sodemann of North Alabama.
John Holliman is the Blazers' other representative traveling to Chattanooga. He will play UNC Greensboro's Taylor Befus in the first round of the C1 singles division.
In doubles, UAB has two teams in the A1 division. Emery and Ly are seeded No. 4 and will play Mercer's duo of Dave Barton and Adam Hunt in first round action Saturday. The Blazers' tandem of Ewels and Moser go against the Longwood team of Hernandez and Daniel Hangstefer.
UAB's team of Cornei and Petrich is seeded No. 1 in the A2 division and will have a first round bye.
"We are really excited to play our first tournament," said UAB head coach Derek Tarr. "The guys have been working very hard on the court and with their conditioning. I think we have the makings to be a very good team this year. We have a good group of returning players and I think Daniel (Moser) is going to be a great addition for us."
Players Mentioned
