Oct. 20, 2006

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Memphis men's tennis team advanced two players to the second round in the first day of action at the ITA Southeast Regionals, Friday. Amrit Narasimhan and Benedikt Fischer each picked up straight set victories to advance to the Round of 64. Narasimhan defeated Alabama's Matt Thibaudeau, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-2, to earn a Saturday slot against Miami's Vivek Subramanian, while Fischer swept Florida's Geoffrey Barton, 6-2, 6-2 to move to a Saturday match against No. 9 seed Ivan Bjelica from Mississippi State.

Four other Tigers fell on Friday on the first day of singles play, including junior Jimmy Khougassian and freshman Spencer Heflin. That tandem opened the Tigers' participation in the event by competing in the qualifying singles draw on Friday morning. Khougassian fell, 6-3, 6-4 to Georgia State's Daniel Balog, while Heflin fell 7-6, 6-2 to Vanderbilt's James Moye.

In the main draw, two other Tiger freshmen lost their matches. Cody Loup fell 6-3, 6-2 to USF's Henning Hipp, while Charlie Ramsay suffered the Tigers' lone loss to a seeded player, falling 6-4, 6-4 to No. 23 Davey Sandgren from Tennessee.

Doubles play in the main draw began at 9 p.m., Friday. In the only one of Memphis' three matches to be complete by deadline, the tandem of Spencer Heflin and Jimmy Khougassian fell 9-8 (7-5). Complete results can be viewed at www.ukathletics.com under men's tennis.

ITA Southeast Regional
October 20-23, 2006
Lexington, Ky

Qualifying Singles
Daniel Balog (Georgia State) def. Jimmy Khougassian (Memphis), 6-3, 6-4
James Moye (Vanderbilt) def. Spencer Heflin (Memphis) 7-6, 6-2

Main Draw Singles
Amrit Narasimhan (Memphis) def. Matt Thibaudeau (Alabama), 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-2
Henning Hipp (USF) def. Cody Loup (Memphis), 6-3, 6-2
No. 23 seed Davey Sandgren (Tennessee) def. Charlie Ramsay (Memphis) 6-4, 6-4
Benedikt Fischer (Memphis) def. Geoffrey Barton (Florida), 6-2, 6-2

Main Draw Doubles
Cody Loup/Charlie Ramsay (Memphis) vs. No. 14 seed Lathouwers/Marsoun (Auburn), 10 p.m.
Axente/Bouabdellah (Chattanooga), def. Spencer Heflin/Jimmy Khougassian (Memphis), 9-8 (7-5)
Benedikt Fischer/Amrit Narasimhan (Memphis) vs. Collins/Lambropoulos (Kentucky), 9 p.m.