NCAA TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS: TROJANS, BRUINS CRUISE TO 2ND-ROUND SHOWDOWN.Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer Prakash Amritraj Prakash Amritraj (born October 2, 1983, Los Angeles, California, U.S.) is a professional tennis player. He turned professional in 2003 after winning the National Championships at the University of Southern California. , the No. 1 singles player for USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. from Harvard-Westlake High of Studio City, dragged himself out of bed to play in the Trojans' first-round NCAA Tournament match against UC Santa Barbara at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on Saturday. The sophomore, who intends to play on the pro tennis circuit at the end of this season, was recovering from a severe case of strep throat Strep Throat Definition Streptococcal sore throat, or strep throat as it is more commonly called, is an infection of the mucous membranes lining the pharynx. Sometimes the tonsils are also infected (tonsillitis). that hit him this week. But it turned out the Trojans, who have been led by Amritraj all year, didn't need him. No. 21 USC earned a 4-0 victory over UCSB UCSB University of California at Santa Barbara UCSB University of Casual Sex and Beer by taking the doubles point and three other singles matches, and Amritraj's match against UCSB's Carlos Palencia was suspended. Two other matches also were suspended. ``I didn't think it would be that easy,'' USC coach Peter Smith said. ``I really prepared the team for a much harder fight. The first doubles point really helped.'' First-year coach Smith was pleased with the play of Johan Berg, a transfer who followed Smith from Pepperdine to USC. Berg overpowered o·ver·pow·er tr.v. o·ver·pow·ered, o·ver·pow·er·ing, o·ver·pow·ers 1. To overcome or vanquish by superior force; subdue. 2. To affect so strongly as to make helpless or ineffective; overwhelm. 3. Mirco Schwindt, losing just two games on his way to a 6-2, 6-0 victory. The Trojans are the defending national champions, but several key injuries and a thin lineup mean they will need Amritraj to be fit today. USC plays No. 6 UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , a 4-0 winner over Wichita State, at 1 p.m. at the Los Angeles Tennis Center in second-round action. The Trojans have lost to UCLA twice this season in Pacific-10 Conference play. ``Hopefully, in the NCAA Tournament we can get a different result,'' Smith said. ``But they are tough. ... I'll have to go home and find the magic potion po·tion n. A liquid medicinal dose or drink. potion a large dose of liquid medicine. .'' UCLA, backed by a lively crowd in the second match Saturday, took the doubles point, and Rodrigo Grilli, Tobias Clemens and Erfan Djahangiri secured points two through four for the Bruins with straight-set victories. Wichita State was the happy underdog - players purchased NCAA Tournament souvenirs at the front of the stadium before the match, sensing theirs would be a quick trip. ``This was a good prematch for having to play USC (today),'' coach Billy Martin said. ``(USC's) doubles won (the Pac-10 championship) at Ojai. I think their singles will be ready to play us. Our goal is to knock off to cease, as from work; to desist. - De Quincey. To force off by a blow or by beating. To assign to a bidder at an auction, by a blow on the counter. To leave off (work, etc.). See also: Knock Knock Knock Knock the defending national champions.'' In the women's tournament, No. 5 USC defeated Georgia Tech 4-0 at Marks Tennis Stadium to advance to the round of 16, and UCLA advanced with a 4-1 victory over Pepperdine at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion