Nov. 8, 2002

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Wake Forest men's tennis team began play Friday at the Burrows/Burleson Virginia Tech Invitational. Four Demon Deacon singles players and two Wake Forest doubles teams advanced to the quarterfinals.

David Loewenthal and Trent Brendon made quick work of Johnson and Bartio Oosthuizen from Radford in the first round of the top doubles flight, winning 8-1. They advance to the quarterfinals where they will meet Liberty's Rino and Ricardo Shinozake Saturday afternoon. Loewenthal and Brendon also both won their first two matches in the top singles flight to advance to the quarterfinals. Loewenthal dispatched Oosthuizen 6-4, 6-0 in the first round and stopped Angel Diankov from Virginia Tech 6-4, 6-3 in the second round. He will take on The Hokies' Andreas Laulund in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon. Brendon came back from behind to beat Stephen Ward of William & Mary 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round and then upset No. 50 Saber Kadari from Virginia Tech 7-6 (12), 6-4 in the second round. He will face teammate Mike Murray in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon.

Murray won his first round singles match 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-0 over Ricardo Shinozake from Liberty and then topped Virginia Tech's Michael Kurz 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the second round. In doubles play, Murray and his partner, Brett Ross, handled Miles and Stonestreet 8-2 in the first round. They will meet the winner of the Kurz and Lauland (Virginia Tech) versus Kilduff and Narczewski (Winthrop) match in the quarterfinals on Saturday evening. Ross dropped his opening singles match 6-2, 6-3 to Chris Varga from Ball State. He will play Donald Miles from Davidson Saturday morning in consolation play.

Brian Murphy won his second round match after receiving a first-round bye to advance to the quarterfinals of the singles B Flight. He beat Robel Mengisteab from Radford in straight sets, winning 6-3, 6-4. Murphy will play Paul Newman from Ball State in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon. In doubles play, Murphy and partner David Bere dropped a first round match 8-1 to the Cardinals' Baccarani and Thompson. Bere won his first round singles match 6-4, 6-4 over Virginia Tech's David Emery, but then lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 to Jamie Cerretani from Brown in the second round. He will play Ball State's Chris Varga in consolation play Saturday morning.

The Burrows/Burleson Virginia Tech Invitational continues tomorrow and concludes on Sunday. Complete results are available at hokiesports.com.