Oct. 3, 2003
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Santa Clara University men's tennis senior Gernot Fischer won two matches today in the pre-qualifying competition for ITA All-American Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. Fischer must win three more contests to advance to the qualifying rounds early next week.
Fischer won his opening match, defeating Middle Tennessee's Kirk Jackson 6-4, 7-5. With a three-set victory in the afternoon over Tennessee's Johnnie Thornton, Fischer advances to the third round and will face Alabama-Birmingham's Kristijan Mitrovski on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.
Junior Taylor Bedilion also earned a victory in his opening match, besting Illinois State's Chris Cozad in three sets. In the Round of 28, Bedilion fell to the top seed, LSU's Ken Skupski.
Bedilion and Fischer will pair together for doubles competition, which begins Saturday morning. The Broncos have a first-round bye and will play the winner of an East Tennessee State vs. Illinois State contest.
The rest of the Broncos will return to action next weekend at the Fresno State Bulldog Classic October 10-12, and close out the fall at the ITA Regional Championship October 17-20 and the Southern California Intercollegiate November 5-9.
Singles, Round of 256
Gernot Fischer (SCU) def. (33) Kirk Jackson (MT) 6-4, 7-5
Taylor Bedilion (SCU) def. Chris Cozad (ILS) 6-0, 2-6, 6-3
Singles, Round of 128
Gernot Fischer (SCU) def. Johnnie Thorton (UT) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5)
(1) Ken Skupski (LSU) def. Taylor Bedilion (SCU) 6-1, 6-1