May 22, 2002

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Stanford University men's tennis team was a perfect 3-for-3 in the first round of the 2002 NCAA Men's Tennis Singles Championship on Wednesday at Texas A&M University.

Juniors Ryan Haviland (Aiken, SC), Scott Lipsky (Merrick, NY) and David Martin (Tulsa, OK) all prevailed on Wednesday and will compete in the second round on Thursday.

Haviland outlasted seventh-seeded Romain Ambert of Mississippi State 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. The Stanford junior will next take on Auburn's Rameez Junaid on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. (Pacific Time).

"That guy was tough," Haviland said. "He didn't miss many balls. That's pretty good in this heat. I thought my my second and third sets were a lot cleaner than the first. It was all about who would outlast the other. We had some long points and some tough break points. I guess I just outlasted him. He's a real crafty guy, real tough to play. He ran me all over the court."

Lipsky opened up NCAA play with a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory over Florian Marquardt of Virginia Commonwealth. Lipsky will face fourth-seeded Jesse Witten of Kentucky on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. (PT). Both Haviland and Lipsky are making their first-ever appearances in the NCAA Singles Championship.

Martin, who also qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship last year, knocked off Brigham Young's Gert Vilms 6-3, 6-0 in opening round action. Martin will face Washington's Alex Vlaski on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. (PT).

In doubles, second-seeded Lipsky and Martin open play on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. (PT) against Simon Rea and Mario Toledo of Tennessee.

2002 NCAA Men's Tennis Singles Championship

Wednesday, May 22, 2002

At College Station, Texas (Texas A&M Tennis Center)

First Round (Round of 64) - Stanford players only

David Martin (Stanford) d. Gert Vilms (Brigham Young), 6-3, 6-0

Ryan Haviland (Stanford) d. #7 seed Romain Ambert (Mississippi State), 5-7, 6-3, 6-2