Oct. 11, 2002

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The University of Memphis men's tennis duo of Ben Stapp and Lee Taylor Walker dropped their first round doubles match at the ITA All-American, 8-6, to the No. 27 ranked team of Ari Strasberg and Alex Vlaski from the University of Washington.

But the duo's hopes for a title remain alive after they won their consolation round opener over the No. 12 ranked doubles team in the country, 8-5. Stapp and Walker edged the duo of Thomas Haug and Avery Ticer from the University of Minnesota to advance at the All-American. Stapp and Walker then received a bye to automatically advance them to the consolation quarterifinals.

The Memphis pair, which is now 3-1 in doubles for the season, will square off with Alabama's pair of Maxim Belski and Stephen Mitchell at 5:30, Friday, in the consolation quarters. The team of Belski and Mitchell is ranked No. 30 in the country, while the team of Stapp and Walker is ranked No. 29.

Championship Doubles
No. 27 Ari Strasberg/Alex Vlaski (UW) def. No. 29 Ben Stapp/Lee Taylor Walker (UM), 8-5

Consolation Round of 32
Stapp/Walker def. No. 12 Thomas Haug/Avery Ticer (Minn), 8-5
Consolation Round of 16
Stapp/Walker received a bye
Consolation Quarterfinals
Stapp/Walker (UM) vs. Belski/Mitchell, Friday, 5 p.m.