ATHENS, GA. -- St. John's University junior Erik Scharf (Yonkers, N.Y./Roosevelt) lost to top-seeded Jeff Morrison of the University of Florida during the first round of the 2000 NCAA Division I Men's Singles Championship, being held at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Georgia.Scharf, who led the Red Storm to a 10-6 overall mark, a 7-0 record in the BIG EAST and a third-place showing in the conference tournament, dropped a 6-2, 6-4 decision to Morrison, the defending NCAA Champion and a two-time All-American.Morrison took two breaks from Scharf in the first set and went on for a 6-2 win. In the second set, Morrison broke Scharf in the first game and held his own to go up 2-0, but both players held through the remaining games. Scharf had a chance to tie the match, down 5-4 and facing Morrison's serve, but could not get the break. Scharf did fight off six match points to Morrison before dropping the decision."He seemed a little nervous at first, but once he realized he was able to be in the match without having to really out-play his opponent, he really gained some confidence," St. John's Head Coach Van Winitsky said. "He gave the guy a struggle. Erik fought hard. He made Morrison work and showed that he can play with anybody. He really put his guts into it. For his first time in the NCAA Tournament, he made a good show for himself."