Friday, May 26
Athens, GA
12:00 AM
Florida Gators
0
at
0
NCAA Singles - Day Three
GATOR MEN'S TENNIS PLAYER REACHES NCAA SEMIFINALS
Friday, May 26, 2000 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. - University of Florida junior Jeff Morrison (Huntington, W.V.) advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championships Friday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
Morrison will meet Kentucky's 31st-ranked Carlos Drada in one semifinal Saturday morning. Morrison and Drada have split two previous meetings this season.
Morrison, the defending NCAA singles champion and the tournament's top seed, downed Pepperdine's 28th-ranked Robert Kendrick 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 Friday morning and then knocked off North Carolina's 22nd-ranked Tripp Phillips 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon. With the wins, Morrison becomes the first player in school history to reach 40 wins in back-to-back seasons (47 in 1999 and 40 in 2000). He also becomes just the fifth player since 1977 to reach the semifinals in back-to-back seasons.
"Today is a tough day to get through and I am glad to make it," said Morrison. "I was real aggressive, especially in the afternoon match (over Phillips). I am fortunate to be where I am and I just need to come out and have fun tomorrow."
Senior Justin O'Neal (Lima, Ohio), who is a 9-16 seed and is ranked 10th nationally, saw his outstanding collegiate career come to an end as he lost to Auburn's 35th-ranked Stephen Huss 7-5, 6-4 in the third round Friday morning. O'Neal leaves as UF's career leader in singles (120), doubles (88) and overall victories (208) and was a three-time All-American in singles. The loss to Huss snapped a 12-match winning streak for O'Neal.
"I have been tired and I did not have any pop in my arm today," said O'Neal. "He played too well and I did not have enough stamina to carry me through. I had a great four years and it is a time that I will always remember."
Morrison is trying to become the first back-to-back champion since Mikael Pernfors in 1984 and 1985. The tournament concludes this Sunday, May 28 with the singles and doubles finals.
NCAA Individual Championships - Friday, May 26, 2000
Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Athens, Ga.
UF Results Only
Third Round Singles
Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Robert Kendrick (Pepperdine) 7-6 (6), 6-3
Stephen Huss (Auburn) d. Justin O'Neal (UF) 7-5, 6-4
Quarterfinals Singles
Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Tripp Phillips (North Carolina) 6-3, 6-4
Morrison will meet Kentucky's 31st-ranked Carlos Drada in one semifinal Saturday morning. Morrison and Drada have split two previous meetings this season.
Morrison, the defending NCAA singles champion and the tournament's top seed, downed Pepperdine's 28th-ranked Robert Kendrick 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 Friday morning and then knocked off North Carolina's 22nd-ranked Tripp Phillips 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon. With the wins, Morrison becomes the first player in school history to reach 40 wins in back-to-back seasons (47 in 1999 and 40 in 2000). He also becomes just the fifth player since 1977 to reach the semifinals in back-to-back seasons.
"Today is a tough day to get through and I am glad to make it," said Morrison. "I was real aggressive, especially in the afternoon match (over Phillips). I am fortunate to be where I am and I just need to come out and have fun tomorrow."
Senior Justin O'Neal (Lima, Ohio), who is a 9-16 seed and is ranked 10th nationally, saw his outstanding collegiate career come to an end as he lost to Auburn's 35th-ranked Stephen Huss 7-5, 6-4 in the third round Friday morning. O'Neal leaves as UF's career leader in singles (120), doubles (88) and overall victories (208) and was a three-time All-American in singles. The loss to Huss snapped a 12-match winning streak for O'Neal.
"I have been tired and I did not have any pop in my arm today," said O'Neal. "He played too well and I did not have enough stamina to carry me through. I had a great four years and it is a time that I will always remember."
Morrison is trying to become the first back-to-back champion since Mikael Pernfors in 1984 and 1985. The tournament concludes this Sunday, May 28 with the singles and doubles finals.
NCAA Individual Championships - Friday, May 26, 2000
Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Athens, Ga.
UF Results Only
Third Round Singles
Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Robert Kendrick (Pepperdine) 7-6 (6), 6-3
Stephen Huss (Auburn) d. Justin O'Neal (UF) 7-5, 6-4
Quarterfinals Singles
Jeff Morrison (UF) d. Tripp Phillips (North Carolina) 6-3, 6-4
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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Jonah Braswell Postmatch 2-2-23
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NCAA: Men's Tennis Postmatch 5-13-22
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