Veterans Lead Hogs to Win Over No. 11 Virginia at ITA National Indoors

SEATTLE, Wash.– Arkansas’ veterans came up big late Saturday night as the Razorbacks upset 11th-ranked Virginia at the ITA National Indoor Championships in Seattle, Wash.

Seniors Adrians Zguns, Matt Roberts and Rohan Gajjar each claimed victories en route to the Hogs posting their first win over a top-15 opponent since March 2, 2003 when UA took down 11th-ranked Alabama in Fayetteville, 4-3. Virginia began the 2006 season as the nation’s top-ranked team.

Zguns and Gajjar’s wins came against top-10 players, while Roberts bested one of the Virginia’s all-time career leaders in victories.

After dropping the doubles point and the first match in singles, the Razorbacks trailed the Cavaliers 2-0. The Hogs stormed back as Zguns bettered 10th-ranked Somdev Devvarman at No. 1, 6-2, 6-4. The win was the seventh straight for Zguns, and the 93rd of his career, tying him for fifth all-time at UA.

Gajjar, ranked 100th, followed with a win over sixth-ranked Treat Huey on court three, 7-5, 7-6, tying the score at two. Roberts, ranked 24th, then gave the Hogs the advantage for good, fighting back after dropping the first set to outlast Doug Stewart at No. 2, 0-6, 6-4, 7-6. Stewart is in the top five for career wins for the Cavaliers.

Sophomore Colin Mascall, the newest Razorback, joined his veteran teammates with victories by clinching the match at No. 5, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, over 46th-ranked Marko Miklo.

The Hogs could not post consecutive wins over top-15 opponents, as the Razorbacks fell Sunday to 15th-ranked LSU, 4-1.

In the LSU match, Zguns continued to climb to Razorback career wins chart, posting his 94th career victory. The win moves him into a tie with Pat Serret for fourth all-time.

Arkansas will have eleven days of rest before hosting No. 2 Georgia on March 3. The Razorbacks and Bulldogs will begin a 1:30 p.m. in Fayetteville.

#46 Arkansas 4, #11 Virginia 2

ITA National Indoors – Consolation

Feb. 18, Seattle, Wash.

Singles

1. Adrians Zguns (UA) def. #10 Somdev Devvarman (UVA), 6-2, 6-4

2. #24 Matt Roberts (UA) def. Doug Stewart (UVA), 0-6, 6-4, 7-6

3. #100 Rohan Gajjar (UA) def. #6 Treat Huey (UVA), 7-5, 7-6

4. #19 Blake Strode (UA) vs. #53 Rylan Rizza (UVA), 5-7, 7-6, 2-3 dnf

5. Colin Mascall (UA) def. #46 Marko Miklo (UVA), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

6. Darrin Cohen (UVA) def. Austin King (UA), 6-2, 6-4

Order Finished: 6, 1, 3, 2, 5

Doubles

1. #35 Treat Huey/Somdev Devvarman (UVA) def. Rohan Gajjar/Matt Roberts (UA), 8-5

2. Rizza/Meythaler (UVA) vs. Blake Strode/Adrians Zguns (UA), 6-4 dnf

3. #25 Darrin Cohen/Doug Stewart (UVA) def. Austin King/Colin Mascall (UA), 8-2

Order Finished: 3, 1

#15 LSU 4, #46 Arkansas 1

ITA National Indoors – Consolation

Feb. 19, Seattle, Wash.

Singles

1. Adrians Zguns (UA) def. #66 Ken Skupski (LSU), 6-2, 7-5

2. Mark Growcott (LSU) def. #24 Matt Roberts (UA), 6-3, 6-1

3. #100 Rohan Gajjar (UA) vs. Colt Gaston (LSU), 6-7 (5), 6-2, 2-0 dnf

4. #19 Blake Strode (UA) vs. Paul White (LSU), 7-6 (3), 5-5 dnf

5. Danny Bryan (LSU) def. Colin Mascall (UA), 6-1, 7-6 (7)

6. James Cluskey (LSU) def. Jimmy Khougassian (UA), 6-2, 7-5

Order Finished: 2, 6, 5

Doubles

1. Rohan Gajjar/Matt Roberts (UA) vs. #10 Ken Skupski/Mark Growcott, 6-5 dnf

2. #24 Danny Bryan/Colt Caston (LSU) def. Blake Strode/Adrians Zguns (UA), 8-1

3. James Cluskey/Paul White (LSU) def. Austin King/Colin Mascall (UA), 8-3

Order Finished: 2, 3