Jan. 9, 2003

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Sophomore Alex Bucewicz will be the lone Tiger competing for a singles championship, Friday, when he faces Toledo's Dipesh Rao in the consolation finals of the Milwaukee Tennis Classic. Bucewicz downed Northern Illinois' Todd Forsberg 6-3, 6-0, to earn the finals berth. Rao defeated Memphis newcomer Alex Jago, 6-0, 7-6, in the consolation semifinals to earn his finals berth.

In championship singles action, senior Ben Stapp was eliminated in the semifinals by No. 1 seed Vincent Ng from Ohio State, 6-2, 6-4. Stapp's teammate, Lee Taylor Walker, was upset earlier in the day by Florida State's Rodrigo Laub, 6-2, 6-2. Walker was the No. 7 seed in the singles portion of the tournament.

But Stapp and Walker remain alive in the doubles portion of the tournament after an 8-2 win over the team of Scott Green (Ohio State) and Ross Wilson (Toledo, Ohio). The No. 1 doubles seed will face the mixed team of Ben Davis (UW-Green Bay) and Marko Despot (Wichita State) at 11 a.m., Friday, in the quarterfinals. Seeded doubles teams advanced to six of the eight quarterfinal matches that will be played Friday.

The Tigers return home to host their Jan. 25 Alumni Match which serves as one of the fundraising opportunities for the men's tennis program. Memphis opens its dual match season at home against Tennessee-Chattanooga, Jan. 31st at 2 p.m.