MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (September 22, 2006) - With matches delayed by rain, the ETSU men's tennis team began play today in the MTSU Fall Invitational. Action continues Saturday with singles semifinals play and the start of doubles competition.

In Flight A3 singles junior Sebastian Serrano (Cartagena, Colombia) defeated Terence Nugent of Auburn, 6-3, 6-4 in the round of 16 before defeating Christopher Racz of Tennessee, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 10-2.  Serrano will take on Chris Rea of Ole Miss in semifinals action on Saturday.

Competing in Flight B2 singles, newcomer Predrag Burmazovic (Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro) cruised to an easy victory as he defeated Richard Walsh of Birmingham Southern,  6-3, 6-2 in the round of 16, before dismantling William Sousa of South Florida, 6-2, 6-2. He will square off against Kevin Sijmons of Armstrong Atlantic.

In Flight B3 singles, Alex Ahlgren (Tyreso, Sweden) and Ricardo Rojas (Caracas, Venezuela) both advanced to an all-ETSU final match scheduled for Saturday. Ahlgren defeated Michael Locandro of Birmingham Southern, 6-1, 6-2 and Diego Martinez of Troy 6-2, 6-2, while Rojas advanced after Colin Van der Hel of Troy withdrew and then defeated Martin Crockett of Birmingham Southern, 6-0, 6-0. The two teammates will square off in finals action at Noon.

Due to poor weather conditions, doubles play was delayed and is scheduled to start on Saturday.

"We played pretty well overall," said head coach Yaser Zaatini. "We are still trying to get into form for spring. I believe that we played some good tennis today, but we still need to get into better physical shape. We're looking deep and I believe that we will continue to improve."

The Buccaneers will continue play in the MTSU Fall Invitational on Saturday with the first matches beginning at 10 a.m. For all ETSU men's tennis action check www.etsubucs.com/mtennis.

ETSU Results

Singles

Flight A1 - Kaden Hensel (UT) def. Enrique Olivares (ETSU) 6-3, 6-2

Flight A2 - Lisandro Picardo (ETSU) def. Diego Toledo (USF) 7-6 (5), 6-4

                  Morgan Richard (MTSU) def. Lisandro Picardo (ETSU) 6-7 (4), 6-2, 10-7

Flight A2 - Daniel Daudt (USF) def. Daniel Isaza (ETSU) 6-2, 4-6, 10-6

Flight A3 - Sebastian Serrano (ETSU) def. Terence Nugent (AU) 6-3, 6-4

                  Sebastian Serrano (ETSU) def. Christopher Racz (UT) 6-7 (4), 6-2, 10-2

Flight B2 - Predrag Burmazovic (ETSU) def. Richard Walsh (BSC) 6-2, 6-3

                  Predrag Burmazovic (ETSU) def. William Sousa (USF) 6-2, 6-2

Flight B3 - Alex Ahlgren (ETSU) def. Michael Locandro (BSC) 6-1, 6-2

                  Alex Ahlgren (ETSU) def. Diego Martinez (Troy) 6-2, 6-2

Flight B3 - Ricardo Rojas (ETSU) def. Colin Van der Hel (Troy) withdrew

                  Ricardo Rojas (ETSU) def. Martin Crockett (BSC) 6-0, 6-0