February 1, 2004

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Virginia Tech men's tennis team tasted defeat for the first time this season Sunday with a 4-2 loss at 7^th-ranked Mississippi. The singles competition was played first the doubles matchers were cancelled due to Tech's travel constraints.

Tech, ranked No. 55 in the ITA national poll, held its own against one of the nation's top programs with a line-up including two freshmen and one sophomore. The Hokies won at No. 4 as Arvid Puranen (Fr., Lulea, Sweden) defeated Juan Pablo Di Cesare 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) and at No. 6 with Morten Schultz (Fr., Bjerringbro, Sweden) picked up a birthday win 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 over Eric Claesson.

The Hokies lost at No. 1 as Andreas Laulund dropped a 6-2, 7-6 (4) decision to 20^th-ranked Catalin Gard and fell in the No. 2 match as Stephane Rod (Jr., Lausanne, Switzerland) lost 7-6 (5), 6-3 to 70^th-ranked Paul Ciorascu. Soren Spanner (So., Strandby, Denmark)lost at No. 3 to 49^th-ranked Claes Lindholm 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 and Angel Diankov (Jr., Yonkers, N.Y.) fell 6-4, 7-5 at No. 5 to Fredrik Aarum.

Tech will return to action on Feb. 8 when the Hokies host North Carolina State in a 4 p.m. contest.

#7 Mississippi 4, #55 Virginia Tech 2

No. 1: #20 Catalin Gard (UM) def. Andreas Laulund (VT) 6-2, 7-6 (4)
No. 2: #70 Paul Ciorascu (UM) def. Stephane Rod (VT) 7-6 (5), 6-3
No. 3: #49 Claes Lindholm (UM) def. Soren Spanner (VT) 7-5, 1-6, 6-1
No. 4: Arvid Puranen (VT) def. Juan Pablo Di Cesare (UM) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4)
No. 5: Fredrik Aarum (UM) def. Angel Diankov (VT) 6-4, 7-5
No. 6: Morten Schultz (VT) def. Eric Claesson (UM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles competition cancelled