Feb. 17, 2001

SEATTLE, Wash. - Top-ranked Stanford University (6-0) moved one win away from its second straight USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championship, and 12th overall, with an impressive 4-0 semifinal win over fifth-ranked Duke (5-1) on Saturday evening at the University of Washington.

The Cardinal's opponent in the finals will be a familiar one. Stanford will face off with third-ranked UCLA (6-0) on Sunday at noon in a battle of teams that have combined to win every USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championship since 1990. UCLA advanced to the finals with a 4-2 win over sixth-ranked Texas Christian.

Stanford continued its dominance this weekend by winning 4-0 for the third time in as many days. And for the third straight day, the Cardinal received big lifts from senior Alex Kim (Potomac, MD/Winston Churchill HS) at No. 1 singles and sophomores Scott Lipsky (Merrick, NY/Bellmore-Kennedy HS) and David Martin (Key Biscayne, FL/Boca Raton Prep) at No. 2 doubles.

The 10th-ranked Lipsky and Martin improved to 3-0 in the tournament, and 17-2 on the season, with a 8-5 upset victory over fifth-ranked Andres Pedroso and Ted Rueger. The Cardinal also received a doubles victory from 28th-ranked Ryan Haviland (Washington, D.C./St. Alban's HS) at No. 3 doubles to wrap up the first point of the match.

In singles play, defending NCAA Champion Kim handled 27th-ranked Phillip King 6-0, 6-3 to improve to 10-1 on the season. In his three singles victories this weekend, Kim has lost a combined total of just 11 games.

The Cardinal then wrapped up the win thanks to singles victories by K.J. Hippensteel (Roanoke, VA/International Academy) at No. 2 and Lipsky at No. 6. The 26th-ranked Hippensteel upset eighth-ranked Ramsey Smith 6-3, 6-3, and Lipsky outlasted 95th-ranked Alex Bose 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

SINGLES

No. 1 - #5 Alex Kim (STAN) d. #27 Phillip King, 6-0, 6-3

No. 2 - #26 K.J. Hippensteel (STAN) d. #8 Ramsey Smith, 6-4, 6-4

No. 3 - #4 Marko Cerenko (DUKE) vs. #20 David Martin (STAN), did not finish

No. 4 - #14 Andres Pedroso (DUKE) vs. #44 Ryan Haviland (STAN), did not finish

No. 5 - Joel Spicher (DUKE) vs. Ali Ansari (STAN), did not finish

No. 6 - Scott Lipsky (STAN) d. #95 Alex Bose, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

DOUBLES

No. 1 - #27 Ramsey Smith/Mike Yahi (DUKE) vs. K.J. Hippensteel/Alex Kim (STAN), did not finish

No. 2 - #10 Scott Lipsky/David Martin (STAN) d. #5 Andres Pedroso/Ted Rueger, 8-5

No. 3 - #28 (tie) Ryan Haviland/Carter Morris (STAN) d. Marko Cerenko/Phillip King, 8-4

Records - #5 Duke 5-1, #1 Stanford 6-0.

Other scores - Semifinals: UCLA 4, Texas Christian 2. Consolation bracket - Texas A&M 4, Oklahoma State 0, Washington 4, Florida 1, Tennessee 4, Virginia Commonwealth 3, Mississippi 4, San Diego State 3, Pepperdine 4, Princeton 0, Georgia 4, Illinois 1.