As fast as freshman Rylan Rizza's backhand flew passed the baseline, his body hit the ground.
Rizza's unforced error in a second set tiebreaker against Saber Kadiri clinched a 7-5, 7-6 victory for Kadiri in the deciding match of yesterday's 4-3 loss to Virginia Tech (18-6). The loss dropped Virginia's record to 20-7 and left a disappointed Rizza lying on the court with his hands on his head.
This is the third straight narrow defeat for a Cavalier team that also fell to Clemson and North Carolina, 4-3, in the last week.
"This was pretty tough," senior Michael Duquette said. "I have never been on a team that's beaten Virginia Tech. Plus, this is our third 4-3 loss to them, so it was definitely tough to take."
Duquette himself had a successful performance during his last home match of his career. He closed out his doubles match with a strong service game to earn an 8-4 victory for him and freshman partner Doug Stewart, clinching the doubles point for the Cavaliers.
Duquette then made quick work in the No. 2 singles match, disposing of Stephan Rod, 7-6, 6-1, to give Virginia an early 2-0 lead.
Stewart dropped the No. 1 singles match to Andrea Laulund, 6-4, 6-3, but Virginia's No. 6 Nick Meythaler moved to 10-0 in singles play this season with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Adel Abbas. The win put the Cavaliers up 3-1, leaving Virginia only one win away from victory, but the Hokies swept the three remaining matches, including two in three sets to seal the victory.
Virginia sophomore Chris Gonyer had little trouble early on in the No. 4 singles match, taking the first set over Michael Kurz, 6-2. Gonyer couldn't close out the match and Kurz slowly climbed back to win the final two sets and earn a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Gonyer "stopped focusing," Virginia coach Brian Boland said. "He didn't have the determination on every point. When you let up, a lot of things can change. He needs to focus on every point and not let up."
Angel Diankov's 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory over Virginia freshman Darren Cohen in the No. 5 singles match left the contest tied with only the No. 3 Rizza-Kadiri match left. Rizza was able to force a tiebreaker but fell short of extending the match to a third set.
The Cavaliers will bring their three-match losing streak into the ACC tournament Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. Virginia will face a Wake Forest squad they previously beat 4-3 on March 22.
Read More
West Coast woes strike again as men’s basketball gets hammered by Stanford
By Emory Huffman | 3 hours agoVirginia, once again in a lost season, looked aimless on the floor.
ISTVAN: Tony Bennett left Virginia in a hole
By Ben Istvan | 11 hours agoHis decision to retire doomed this men's basketball season.
