THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505070206
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Third-seeded Virginia Commonwealth, unfazed by a sluggish performance in doubles, roared back to upend No. 2 Florida State, 4-2, and advance to the final of the NCAA Region IV men's tennis tournament Saturday at the Old Dominion tennis complex.
The Rams (22-6) will meet top-seeded Duke (22-4) in the championship today at 1 p.m. The Blue Devils took out No. 4 Clemson, 4-1. It was Duke's third victory over the Tigers this season.
The three doubles matches, which are played prior to the six singles, often set the tone for a match. But the Rams have made a habit of struggling in the team competition, and Saturday was no exception.
``Doubles is our weakness,'' VCU coach Paul Kostin said.
The Rams didn't exactly blow off the doubles. The Seminoles took them, getting victories from Brian Stanton and Ken McKenzie at No. 1 and Jason White and Antonio Priesto at No. 2.
But Jonas Elmbald (No. 3 singles) and Manuel Kropfreiter (No. 6) prevailed in their singles matches to put VCU in front by a point. White answered for the Seminoles with a victory at No. 4, but VCU freshman No. 1 Richard Wernerhjelm moved the Rams to within a point of the victory by outdueling heavy-hitting Stanton, 6-4, 7-6.
Stanton produced some of the hardest shots of the day, but ironically lost match point when his baseline drop shot chipped the top of the net.
Sebastian Payne then clinched VCU's victory by ripping a running forehand winner to seal a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 win over Payne at No. 5.
The Blue Devils had much less trouble with Clemson, as they swept all three singles matches. by CNB