Nov. 4, 2010

While the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships continues in New York, three Vols conclude their fall seasons with the Crimson Tide Fall Championships, beginning Friday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Senior Matteo Fago headlines the Tennessee group, competing in the top flight of singles and doubles. Junior Bryan Swartz and freshman Colton Norton have also made the trip.

Fago faces Louisville's Robert Hall in the first round. Fago and Hall were scheduled to meet last season at the No. 6 position in the Vols' round of 16 victory over Louisville at the NCAA Tennis Championships, but Tennessee won the match 4-0 indoors before the two took the court.

Fago is easily off to the start of his career. He has a 6-2 record this fall with four of those victories over ranked opponents, including sixth-ranked Michael Shabaz of Virginia. Fago enters the weekend with 78 career victories, three shy of tying associate head coach Chris Woodruff (1992-93) and Fabio Silberberg (1989-91) for 15th on Tennessee's wins list.

Fago and Swartz are playing doubles together for the first time this season. They face Tulane's Adam Demstein and Rodrigo Rappaccioli.

In the second flight of singles, Swartz plays Chattanooga's Chris Smith. Norton also starts the fifth flight against a Chattonooga opponent: Faith Jordan.

Crimson Tide Fall Invitational
Friday's Schedule
Singles
Flight 1
Round of 16
Matteo Fago, UT, vs. Robert Hall, Louisville

Flight 2
Round of 16
Bryan Swartz, UT, vs. Chris Smith, Chattanooga

Flight 5
Round of 16
Colton Norton, UT, vs. Faith Jordan, Chattanooga