The University of Minnesota made a strong showing today at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Region Championships in Minneapolis advancing three of their four players who competed in the 64-man men's open singles qualifer round.

Minnesota's Mikey Kantar beat Western Michigan's Alejandro Staub in two sets for the first Gopher win while seventh-seeded Sion Wilkins defeated Adriano Liccardo of UIC in two sets. Chi Pham beat Bradley's Matt Metully with relative ease, also in two sets and tenth-seeded Brian Lipinski lost in three sets to Marquette's Stephen Shao after winning the first set 6-0.

Play will continue tomorrow at Baseline Tennis Center at 8 a.m. (CST) for the round-of-32 singles and eventually the main draw doubles which will begin at 4 p.m.

October 19, 2006
Baseline Tennis Center
Minneapolis, MN

Qualifying Singles
Round of 64 - Mikey Kantar (UMN) def. Alejandro Staub (WMich), 7-5, 7-6(3)
Round of 64 - Sion Wilkins (7)(UMN) def. Adriano Liccardo (UIC), 6-4, 6-2
Round of 64 - Stephen Shao (Marq) def. Brian Lipinski (10)(UMN), 0-6, 6-3, 6-3
Round of 64 - Chi Pham (UMN) def. Matt Metully (Brad), 6-1, 6-4