Sept. 22, 2007

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ----- The UAB men's tennis team continued its impressive play here Saturday at the UTC Baras Fall Classic as the Blazers will have both finalists in the "B" division singles championship match, one in the "C" division singles final and also a doubles team in the title match of the "A" flight.

Senior Adrian Tollstam will play in the singles final in the "C" division and then team with fellow senior Hans Spangenberg in doubles to compete for the "A" division crown.

Tollstam won a pair of matches in straight sets Saturday to reach Sunday's singles final as he downed Steffen Solomon of Jacksonville State (6-3, 6-2) and then beat Illie Zenden of North Alabama in the semifinals (6-2, 6-4).

Tollstam and Spangenberg won an 8-4 decision over UT Chattanooga's Peter Sauska and Pavel Vostrikov in their semifinal doubles match.

"I thought we had a good day and all of the guys are playing good tennis," said UAB assistant coach Davidson Kozlowski. "This is the best I have seen Adrian play in singles and doubles. He's one of our seniors and that's something we have talked to him about this year (stepping up as a senior)."

In the "B" division, UAB sophomore Thomas Petrich will meet teammate Tyrone Ewels, a freshman from South Africa playing in his first collegiate tournament, in Sunday's final.

Petrich advanced with wins over Andy True of Western Kentucky (6-2, 6-1) and then outlasted Vostrikov of UT Chattanooga in their semifinal matchup, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Meanwhile, Ewels had to rally in both of his matches as he came back in both his quarterfinal and semifinal matches after losing the opening set. He beat Chris Duke of Jacksonville State in the quarters (4-6, 6-4, 6-1) and then advanced to the final with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Joey Unkenholz, also of Jacksonville State.

In Saturday's consolation play, Spangenberg won a pair of matches Saturday in the "A" division after he was upset in the first round on Friday. Spangenberg, the No. 1 seed in the division defeated Lars Gratzki of Eastern Kentucky, 6-2, 6-2, and then defeated Sidney Victoratto of Lee, 6-0, 6-4.