November 01, 2007
Texas A&M?â„¢s Conor Pollock upset the nation?â„¢s No. 2-ranked college tennis player in the opening round of the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships held Thursday at The Racquet Club of Columbus.
The San Antonio native used a 6-3, 6-3 straight-set victory to get past Ohio State?â„¢s Steven Moneke on his own home turf. Pollock advances to Friday?â„¢s round of 16 and will take on Dalibor Pavic of Drake who upset seventh-seeded Luke Shields of Boise State in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Pollock is currently ranked No. 37 nationally in the preseason ITA/FILA Collegiate Tennis Rankings.
?It was a really big win,? said Pollock, who competed as an amateur this summer and fall on the USTA Futures circuit. ?I was really happy after the match. I felt like I really opened the court up and rallied with him. I hit my forehand really well and played the big points. The match was closer than the score may indicate and it feels good to get a win against a highly-ranked player. Match experience is really helping me win these matches right now and all of the hardwork from the summer and fall are paying off.?
With the first-round victory, Pollock earns his highest career singles win at A&M next to defeating No. 13-ranked Lars Poerschke of Baylor in dual match play last season. The singles draw continues tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
?It?â„¢s just a testament on how much he has improved,? said Texas A&M head coach Steve Denton on Pollock?â„¢s win. ?He?â„¢s beginning to believe in himself and the combination of playing in the summer and fall has really made a difference for him.?
ITA NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Nov. 1-4, 2007
The Racquet Club of Columbus
at Columbus, Ohio
SINGLES
Round of 32
(37) Conor Pollock (Texas A&M) def. (2) Steven Moneke (Ohio State), 6-3, 6-3.