CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Oct. 17, 2007) - The ETSU men's tennis wrapped up the first day of competition at the ITA Mideast Regional championships hosted by the University of Virginia. Lisandro Picardo (Mar del Plata, Argentina) and Alex Ahlgren (Tyreso, Sweden) qualified to compete in Thursday's main draw action along with four other members of the squad.

In the Round of 64 Picardo cruised by Winthrop's Arthur Takahashi, 6-1, 6-4 before breezing by Eric Turner of North Carolina State, 6-2, 6-1. He will square off against Mason Schermerhorn of Elon in the first round of the Main Draw.

Ahlgren rolled by Maryland's Michael Coleman, 6-3, 6-4 in the Round of 64 before defeating Kyle Baker of UNC in a match that last four hours, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. He will face Steven Forman of Wake Forest in the Main Draw.

Also competing in qualifying action Daniel Isaza (Medellin, Colombia) defeated Martin King of Old Dominion, 6-2, 7-6(4) before falling to Radford's Ivan Salec, 7-6(3), 6-0 while newcomer Sergio Velez (Medellin, Colombia) fell to Maryland's Nickolai Nielsen, 6-1, 6-2.

ETSU will open up main draw action on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. when Predrag Burmazovic (Belgrade, Serbia) takes on Chris Welte of North Carolina State. For all ETSU men's tennis action visit www.ETSUBucs.com.

ITA Mideast Prequalifying Results

Round of 64 - Lisandro Picardo (ETSU) def. Arthur Takahashi (WU) 6-1, 6-4

Round of 32 - Lisandro Picardo (ETSU) def. Eric Turner (NCSU) 6-2, 6-1

Round of 64 - Daniel Isaza (ETSU) def. Martin King (ODU) 6-2, 7-6(4)

Round of 32 - Ivan Salec (RU) def. Daniel Isaza (ETSU) 7-6(3), 6-0

Round of 64 - Nickolai Nielsen (UM) def. Sergio Velez (ETSU) 6-1, 6-2

Round of 64 - Alex Ahlgren (ETSU) def. Michael Coleman (UM) 6-3, 6-4

Round of 32 - Alex Ahlgren (ETSU) def. Kyle Baker (UNC) 7-6, 6-7, 7-6