Oct. 26, 2002

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Doubles Bracket in PDF Format
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LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Two members of the University of Tennessee men's tennis team, Mark Dietrich and Simon Rea, earned quarterfinal berths at the 2002 Omni Hotels Region III Indoor Championships Saturday.

Dietrich, the No. 10 seed, advanced into the round of 16 with a three-set victory over Claes Lindholm of Ole Miss 76(5), 3-6, 6-3. Then in the quarters, he scored a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Georgia's Nicolas Boeker.

Dietrich will now face the nation's top-ranked player in a Sunday showdown at high-noon, No. 1 seed Jesse Witten of Kentucky.

Continuing a stretch of fine play, Rea showed his experience as he rallied back from a one-set deficit to defeat the No. 9 seed, Tulane's Victor Romero, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. With the win, Rea advanced to the round of 16, where he toppled the No. 7 seed, Kentucky's Karim Benmansour 6-3, 7-5.

Joining his teammate Dietrich in the quarterfinals, Rea will square off against Ole Miss junior Paul Ciorascu.

"I was pleased with the play of Mark Dietrich and Simon Rea today," Tennessee associate head coach Chris Mahony said. "They both stepped up their game another level from what we've seen this fall, and they both played exceptionally well in their round of 16 matches. They should take a lot of confidence into (Sunday's) quarterfinals."

Tennessee joins Ole Miss as the only schools with more than one player in the singles quarterfinals.

In doubles competition, the 6th seeded Tennessee team of Dietrich and Rea advanced to the round of 16 without having to set foot on the court. Their round of 32 opponents, Patrick Suhrbier and Dino Mancarella withdrew.

Dietrich and Rea will play the Jacksonville University sophomore duo of Ben Birkmann and Christoph Mueller in Sunday's doubles quarterfinals.

Mark Henderson and Wade Orr were eliminated in the round of 16, dropping an 8-3 contest to LSU's Bryan Fisher and Jason Hazley.

Singles Main Draw Round of 32 - Oct. 26
10 Mark Dietrich (UT) def. Claes Lindholm (Ole Miss) - 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3
Simon Rea (UT) def. 9 Victor Romero (Tulane) - 2-6, 6-3, 6-3

Singles Main Draw Round of16 - Oct. 26
10 Mark Dietrich (UT) def. Nicolas Boeker (UGA) - 6-3, 6-2
Simon Rea (UT) def. 7 Karim Benmansour (UK) - 6-3, 7-5

Doubles Round of 32 - Oct. 26
Mancarella/Suhrbier (UAB) w/d (inj.) - 6 Dietrich/Rea (UT) advance
Fisher/Hazley (LSU) (UT) def. 8 Henderson/Orr - 8-3