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Bryan, Skupski to Open NCAA Singles Play

by LSUsports.net (@LSUsports)
Live Results NCAA Men's Singles Draw (.pdf) +0
Bryan, Skupski to Open NCAA Singles Play

ATHENS, Ga. — Four members of the LSU men’s tennis team will begin play in the NCAA Individual Tournament this week at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the University of Georgia’s campus.

Seniors Danny Bryan and Ken Skupski will take part in the singles portion, which begins Wednesday. The teams of Bryan and Colt Gaston, and James Cluskey and Skupski will compete in the doubles portion that begins Thursday. Skupski has competed in the singles portion four times and in doubles the past two years. Bryan, Cluskey and Gaston are competing at the NCAA Individual Tournament for the first time.

Skupski will face No.10-ranked Todd Paul of Wake Forest at 9 a.m. EDT. Skupski enters the tournament with a 22-15 record, including 12 wins over ranked opponents. Skupski holds a 1-3 record in the singles tournament.  He was forced to retire in the second round last year due to a nagging back injury. Paul is arguably the most decorated player in Wake Forest history as he holds the all-time record for singles wins (107), including a 32-8 mark this season. He is making his second-straight appearance in the singles tournament. The four-time All ACC selection made the second round last season.

Bryan will face the No. 26-ranked Pierre Mouillon of California at 3 p.m. EDT. Bryan is ranked No. 32 in the nation and owns a team best 26 wins this season. The first-team All SEC selection has captured eight wins against ranked opponents this season. Mouillon recently received All Pac-10 honors by compiling a 24-14 record. 

In doubles, Bryan and Gaston received the No. 4 seed and will battle the duo of Tim Bradshaw and Brady Crosby from Western Michigan. Bryan and Gaston have compiled a 22-3 record this season and have won 33 of their last 36 matches. The Broncos tandem’s bid in tournament is a significant milestone as they are the first tennis players in either singles or doubles to reach the individual championships during the modern era of the tournament that began in 1978.

Cluskey and Skupski will take on the Boise State pair of Piotr Dilaj and Luke Shields. Cluskey and Skupski have compiled a 22-10 record this season, including seven of their last 10. Skupski compiled a 5-2 record doubles tournament record with former partner Mark Growcott and the duo reached the finals in 2005. Dilaj and Shields earned All-WAC honors this season with a 14-9 record.

Doubles match times will be announced late Wednesday.

NCAA Men’s Tennis Singles Championship
May 23, 2007
Round of 64
All times Central
#24 Ken Skupski (LSU; 22-15 overall; 12-10 dual) vs. (9-16) #10 Todd Paul (Wake Forest; 32-8 overall; 21-6 dual), 8 a.m.
#32 Danny Bryan (LSU; 26-10 overall; 14-7 dual) vs. #26 Pierre Mouillon (California; 24-14 overall; 12-10 dual), 2 p.m.

NCAA Men’s Tennis Doubles Championship
May 24, 2007
Round of 32
(4) #4 Danny Bryan/Colt Gaston (LSU; 22-3 overall; 18-3 dual) vs. #54 Tim Bradshaw/Brady Crosby (Western Michigan; 9-7 overall; 2-3 dual), TBD
#22 James Cluskey/Ken Skupski (LSU; 22-10 overall; 15-7 dual) vs. #56 Piotr Dilaj/Luke Shields (Boise St.; 14-9 overall), TBD