July 29, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. –
The 2002 Wachovia USTA Boys Junior Davis Cup continued play Monday on the campus of the University of South Carolina with a pair of upsets leading the way. Top-seeded Southern California and No. 2 seed and host team Southern each fell, setting up Tuesday’s championship match between No. 3 Midwest and No. 4 Florida.

Florida will take on Midwest Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in the championship match at the Sam Daniel Tennis Center. Host Southern will face Southern California for third place at 8:30 a.m. on the same courts. Play begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday in a team format with action taking place at three courts in the Columbia area: the Sam Daniel Tennis Center (USC men’s courts on Heyward Street at The Roost), the Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center (USC women’s courts on Blossom Street near Five Points) and the Columbia Tennis Center (corner of Pickens and Whaley streets at the water tower). Admission to all three sites is free.

Florida, a five-time champion in the event with its last title coming in 1997 in Columbia, left Southern California in the dust in the day’s second match at the Sam Daniel Tennis Center. After Southern California went up 1-0 early, Florida won the match in singles with four easy, straight-set victories. Leading the way was John Dehart, who crushed Southern California’s Derrick Bauer, 6-3, 6-3, in the No. 1 singles match. Southern California was held to just eight games won in the other three Florida victories, but captured the two doubles points to keep the margin close in the 4-3 Florida win.

The host Southern team, who lost a heartbreaker to Texas in last year’s final, proved no match for No. 3 seed Midwest as Midwest won the noon match in singles as well. Mark Barry easily disposed of Southern’s Jermaine Jenkins, 6-2, 6-2 with Southern’s lone point coming by Brent Ross, a 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 winner over Ross Wilson at No. 2 singles. The teams split the doubles points with Midwest coming away with a 5-2 victory.

Also in the championship bracket Monday, Intermountain eased past Middle States, 4-3 and Texas downed New England, 5-2. In the consolation draw, Northern California defeated Mid-Atlantic, 5-2, Eastern downed Southwest, 6-1, Missouri Valley crshed Northern, 7-0, and Pacific Northwest downed Hawaii-Pacific, 5-2.

Teams play a seven-point match (five singles, two doubles matches) with the winner advancing. Sixteen regions from across the country are represented in the premier team junior tennis tournament in the nation.

For further information on the tournament, contact the USC Sports Information Office at (803) 777-7875. A complete bracket and daily game times are posted each evening on the Gamecocks’ athletics web site at www.uscsports.com.

2002 Junior Davis Cup

Monday, July 29 Results

Florida 4, Southern California 3
Midwest 5, Southern 2
Intermountain 4, Middle States 3
Texas 5, New England 2
Northern California 5, Mid-Atlantic 2
Eastern 6, Southwest 1
Missouri Valley 7, Northern 0
Pacific Northwest 5, Hawaii-Pacific 2

Tuesday, July 30 Matches

M=Sam Daniel Center (USC men’s courts)
W=Maxcy Gregg Center (USC women’s courts)
CTC=Columbia Tennis Center

 8:00 a.m.	Missouri Valley vs. Pacific Northwest (CTC)
           Northern vs. Hawaii-Pacific (CTC)
           Mid-Atlantic vs. Southwest (W)
 8:30 a.m.	Southern vs. Southern California (M)
10:00 a.m.	Intermountain vs. Texas (CTC)
           Middle States vs. New England (W)
11:30 a.m.	Florida vs. Midwest (M) - Championship Match
12:00 p.m.	Northern California vs. Eastern (W) - Consolation Championship