Three Stags Advance in Singles on First Day of ITA Grass Court Invitational

NEWPORT, R.I. - Julian Gordy, Jack Katzman and Jake Williams all won their first singles matches on the opening day of the Hall of Fame ITA Grass Court Invitational on Friday afternoon at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Gordy had a close battle with Bernardo Neves of WashU in the quarterfinals of the Michael Stich flight, coming up with a three-set victory to move on to tomorrow's semifinal win. After taking the first set 6-3, Gordy lost a tight tiebreaker in the second set 10-8 as the match leveled at one set apiece. In the third set tiebreaker (one game to 10 points), Gordy was able to surge ahead and hold on for a 10-7 win to move on to face the top seed tomorrow, Grant Urken of Bowdoin. 

In the bottom half of the Stich flight, Katzman, who was the NCAA Division III singles runner-up a year ago as a freshman, had a quicker victory, taking a 6-1, 6-4 win over Wilson Hamilton of Trinity (Texas). He will move on to face Jerry Jiang of Bowdoin, who had a quick 6-2, 6-2 win in his quarterfinal as well. 

In the Arthur Ashe flight, Williams earned a 6-4, 6-4 win over Cameron Krimbill of Trinity to advance, where he will face Konrad Kozlowski of WashU tomorrow. Casey Morris fell in his opening round to Wilson Lambeth of Trinity and will compete in the consolation bracket tomorrow against Alan Delman on Bowdoin. 

The Stags had less success in doubles, where their two teams both dropped their opening matches. Gordy and Katzman fell in the first round to Trinity (Texas), while Williams and Alfred Simental dropped a close 8-6 decision to Bowdoin in their first match. Both will compete in the consolation bracket tomorrow after the conclusion of singles play. 

CMS is playing in its first of two big ITA events this fall, as it will also take part in the ITA West Regionals in two weeks in Claremont, which will be hosted by Pomona-Pitzer.