Oct. 13, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Three Tigers are set to play in semifinal matches Sunday after advancing at the South Carolina Tennis Invitational in Columbia, S.C.
Alex Petropoulos, Nick Maurillo and Hunter Mills all advanced through quarterfinal matches Saturday to advance to Sunday's semifinals. All three are slated for 8 a.m. matches.
"It is great to have all three of our guys still playing on Sunday," said head coach Eric Shore. "These guys are getting some great match experience this weekend and that is something that will definitely help down the road."
Petropoulos led the way in the A/B bracket. He knocked off Javier Rodriquez in his first match on Saturday, taking a 6-1 victory in the first set before Rodriguez pulled out of the match because of injury.
Petropoulos then downed Kevin Sijmons, 6-3, 6-1, in his quarterfinal match. He will take on UAB's Tyrone Ewels in his semifinal match.
Maurillo, playing in the B1 bracket, downed Brandon Joost, 6-4, 7-5, in his first match. He then followed up with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Thomas Stoddard in his quarterfinal. Maurillo will now take on South Florida's Thomas Estrada in his semifinal pairing.
Mills rounded out singles play for Auburn, playing in the B Consolation bracket. He beat Taylor Ferrier, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in his first match, following it up with a 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (8) win over Omar El Bouzkouri in his semifinal match.
Mill will take on North Carolina-Greensboro's William John in his semifinal match.
The doubles team of Petropoulos and Mills was also in action on Saturday. The pair lost its semifinal match to Thomas Bellman / Soloman Steffen, 8-2.