Rotaru Advances to Wilson ITA/Midwest Regional Main Draw

Thursday, October 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

All Day

University of Louisville

Omni Regional

Rotaru Advances to Wilson ITA/Midwest Regional Main Draw

October 21, 2005 | Men's Tennis

Oct. 21, 2005

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - - University of Louisville freshman Robert Rotaru won three matches in the Qualifying Draw of the Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Championship to claim one of eight spots in the Main Draw which starts Saturday.

"Robert is really developing and embracing the things we're trying to teach him," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. He used a lot of the material we worked on last week and advanced three rounds in the qualifying draw. His game is really flourishing and he beat one of the better freshmen in the Big Ten to advance to the main draw of the Midwest Regional Main Draw."

Rotaru began the round of 64 with a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 win over DePaul's Jack Komar. He followed with a 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 decision over Valparaiso's Nic Kooyers to advance to the round of 16, where he beat Iowa's Christian Bierich 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the main draw.

Junior Stefan Naughton defeated Western Michigan's Kevin Hayward 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 and Butler's Evan West 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3 before falling to Purdue's Eric Hodgman 7-6, 6-4 in the round of 16.

Senior Nicolas Houard fell to Chicago State's Imanuel Prakoso 6-1, 6-4 in the first round.

Louisville men's tennis results from 2005 Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional ChampionshipsQualifying DrawRobert Rotaru (UL) def. Jack Komar (DEP) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5Rotaru def. Noc Kooyers (VALP) 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4Rotaru def. Christian Bierich (IA) 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1Stefan Naughton (UL) def. Kevin Hayward (WMU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4Naughton def. Evan West (BUT) 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3,Eric Hodgman (PUR) def. Naughton 7-6, 6-4Imanuel Prakoso (CHI) def. Nicolas Houard (UL) 6-1, 6-4