Dec. 30, 2002

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis men's tennis team continued its impressive fall showing at the Southern Adult Open. The Tigers entered the tournament with four seeded players, including a No. 4 seed for former Tiger Richard Magney, and a No. 5 seed for senior Ben Stapp and junior Lee Taylor Walker. Sophomore Alex Bucewicz rounded out the seeded players with a No. 9 seed in the singles portion of the draw.

Walker and Bucewicz will face each other at 11 a.m., Monday, in the singles third place match after both were eliminated in the semifinals, Sunday. Walker fell to No. 1 seed Lesley Joseph 6-2, 6-4. Joseph also eliminated Tiger Ben Stapp, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Alex Bucewicz was also eliminated in the semifinals, falling to No. 2 seed Mark Dietrich, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Joseph and Dietrich face each other for the championship at 11 a.m., Monday. The winner of the singles portion of the tournament receives an at-large bid into the qualifying tournament for the The Kroger St. Jude professional event that takes place in Memphis in February.

In the doubles portion of the tournament, Stapp and Walker earned the No. 1 seed and defeated former Tiger James Ladyman and Robert Ladyman, 6-3, 6-2, in their Round of 16 match. James' Ladyman's niece, Christina, was a four-year second-team all-conference honoree for the Lady Tiger tennis program. Stapp and Walker advanced to the doubles final, slated to take place at 11 a.m., Monday, with a 6-2, 6-3 win over the No. 3 seed of Peter Allnutt and Thomas Wride in the semifinals. That win followed a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (3) scare from the team of John Haywood and Joseph Mariencheck in the quarterfinals.

Stapp and Walker will face the No. 4 seeded team of Scott Felsenthal and Gregory Pollack in the final at 11 a.m., Monday.

The Tigers will wrap their fall schedule in January when they travel to Milwaukee, Wis., to participate in the Milwaukee Classic, Jan. 9-12th.

Singles Results
Round of 32
No. 5 Ben Stapp (UM) def. Matthew Wiseman, 6-0, 6-0
West Nott def. Andrew Olswing (UM), 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 Richard Magney (UM) def. John Haywood, 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 Lee Taylor Walker (UM) def. Ben Hestley, 6-1, 6-1
No. 9 Alex Bucewicz (UM) def. Okechi Womeodu, 6-0, 6-3
Round of 16
Stapp (UM) def. Nott, 6-4, 6-4
No. 9 Lewis Smith def. Magney (UM), 6-4, 6-4
Walker (UM) def Michael Flowers, 6-1, 6-0
Bucewicz def. Peter Allnutt, 6-7, 6-4, 6-1
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Lesley Joseph def. Stapp (UM), 6-4, 6-4
Walker (UM) def. No. 9 Lewis Smith, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Bucewicz (UM) def. No. 3 Adam Carey, 7-6 (7), 6-1
Semifinals
No. 1 Lesley Joseph def. No. 5 Lee Taylor Walker (UM), 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 Mark Dietrich def. No. 9 Alex Bucewicz (UM), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

Doubles Results
Round of 32
No. 1 Ben Stapp/Lee Taylor Walker (UM) received a first-round bye
Round of 16
Stapp/Walker (UM) def. James Ladyman/Robert Ladyman, 6-3, 6-2
Quarterfinals
Stapp/Walker (UM) def. John Haywood/Joseph Mariencheck, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7)
Semifinals
Stapp/Walker (UM) def. No. 3 Peter Allnutt/Thomas Wride, 6-3, 7-5