CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — Ken Skupski became the first Tiger in four years to advance to the quarterfinals of the ITA All American Championships on Friday when he beat Air Force’s Shannon Buck, 6-4; 7-6 (6).
Skupski fell behind early in the second set but rallied for the tiebreaker win.
“Ken showed a lot of maturity, being able to come back from a deficit in second set,” said LSU assistant coach Mark Booras. “He got down on himself early and was able to recover.”
Tomorrow’s quarterfinal action will pit Skupski against ninth-ranked Izak van der Merwe of Old Dominion. Should he win, he will play in the semi-finals at 2:30 p.m.
“Van der Merwe is a very solid player both physically and mentally,” Booras said. “Ken will need to be at the top of his game to be able to compete. But this match is definitely within his reach, because he has been playing at the top of his game in this tournament.”
LSU’s other remaining participants were eliminated Friday from the tournament. Jason Hazley ended a strong run that saw him defeat the No. 12 player in the nation before losing in the main draw consolation bracket to William and Mary’s No. 26-ranked Jeff Kader in three sets.
Hazley and Mark Growcott were forced to withdraw in from the tournament after Growcott went down with a strained hamstring. They trailed 6-0 to the No. 5-ranked combo in the country when the match was ended.
Unseeded Danny Bryan and Colt Gaston lost in the consolation bracket in a close contest with TCU’s sixth-ranked Meythaler-Rizza duo. It was the first tournament as a doubles team for both Bryan and Gaston and Growcott and Hazley.
“We’re really proud of both doubles teams qualifying to the main draw and establishing themselves as being able to compete and win at this level.”
ITA ICY HOT ALL-AMERICAN INVITATIONAL
Main Draw Singles
Round of 16
(9)#18 Ken Skupski (LSU) d. #51 Shannon Buck (AFA) 6-4; 7-6(6)
Main Draw Singles
Consolation Bracket
#26 Jeff Kader (WM) d. #122 Jason Hazley (LSU) 6-4; 3-6; 6-4
Main Draw Doubles
Consolation Bracket
#8 (5) Abreu/Sestini (TCU) d. #28 Growcott/Hazley (LSU) 6-0Wo (inj)
#6 (5) Meythaler/Rizza (UVA) d. Bryan/Gaston (LSU) 8-6
Tomorrow’s Matches
#18 Ken Skupski (LSU) vs. #9 Izak van der Merwe (ODU) 10:30 a.m.