TULSA, Okla. - Sophomore
Sam Riffice solidified a dominant run in the ITA All-American Championships' main singles draw on Saturday, cruising by Texas A&M's Val Vachoret in the semifinals for his fifth consecutive win this week to appear in Sunday's finals at the Michael D. Case Center in Tulsa. The men's singles finals will air in primetime tomorrow night at 9 p.m. on ESPNU, as Riffice will get another shot at Texas' No. 4 Yuya Ito in a rematch of last spring's NCAA tournament Final Four matchup. Additionally, Crawford and Riffice concluded the day securing an appearance in Sunday's consolation doubles finals with a resilient three-set win of South Carolina's doubles tandem.
No. 10
Sam Riffice faced Texas A&M's No. 45 Val Vacherot in the singles semifinals, looking to extend what has been a superb week of competition for the sophomore. Riffice approached the first set with laser-focus, as he would drop Vacherot with ease, 6-1. Vacherot showed some resistance in the second set, though, Riffice proved to be too much for the Aggie, dropping him decisively in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.
Riffice's path to the finals in Tulsa is one that most would grimace at, as the Orlando, Fla. native has picked up five straight wins over ranked opponents in No. 43 Richard Ciamarra (Notre Dame), No. 128 Loic Cloes (South Alabama), No. 19 Matej Vocel (Oklahoma State), No. 16 Hady Habib (Texas A&M) and No. 45 Val Vacherot (Texas A&M). The finals doesn't get any easier for Riffice with a matchup slated against Texas' No. 4 Yuya Ito, who handled Riffice in their No. 2 singles matchup of the NCAA Final Four, 6-2, 6-2, though, Riffice looks to challenge Ito upon his growth since their last meeting in May.
Riffice and
Oliver Crawford then managed to produce a resilient effort in the consolation doubles draw, upsetting South Carolina's No. 27 Raphael Lambling and Daniel Rodrigues in three sets to advance to the consolation draw's finals.
The Gamecocks got off to a quick start, earning a 6-3 decision in the first set over Riffice and Crawford. The Gators responded strongly in the second set with a dominant 6-1 effort that would force a tiebreaker set in the semifinals matchup. Riding the momentum, the Gators would overcome Lambling and Rodrigues, 10-3, to notch their third consecutive doubles win over a ranked opponent and enter Sunday's consolation doubles finals.
ITA All-American Championships – Main Singles Draw Semifinals
No. 10
Sam Riffice [6] def. No. 45 Val Vacherot, 6-1, 6-3
Consolation Doubles Draw – Semifinals
No. 49
Sam Riffice/
Oliver Crawford def. No. 27 Raphael Lambling/Daniel Rodrigues, 3-6, 6-3, 10-3
UP NEXT:
Championship Sunday will feature the finals for both women's and men's singles and doubles draw, along with consolation finals play. The women's singles final will air live on ESPNU beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) followed by the men's final at 9 p.m. (ET).
