ATHENS — Stanford’s 4-1 victory over Kentucky ended in drama and confusion as a Wildcats player was defaulted on match point when it was ruled he intentionally returned an errant serve at the umpire.
On match point both for the individual and team matches, Stanford’s No. 4 singles player John Morrissey hit his first serve long. Kentucky’s Tom Jomby’s return hit the umbrella shading the umpire at the net. Jomby apparently claimed the shot was caused by a broken string, and went to his bag for a replacement racket.
At that point, the chair umpire requested a consultation from the assistant referee. Having already been penalized a point and a game in the match for code violations, Jomby was then defaulted to end the match at 6-1, 3-6, 5-4 (default).
“I’m sure they made the right decision,” said Kentucky coach Dennis Emery, whose body language didn’t quite agree with his statement.
Trojans roll
Top-seed USC plowed through No. 16-seed Illinois 4-0 in one of the first matches of the day. The Trojans are aiming for their fourth consecutive NCAA title, which would tie them for the longest streak in Division I history. Stanford claimed the 1995-98 championships and USC also won four in a row 1966-69.
UCLA is the only team to have beaten USC this season, a 4-3 win April 20.
As a result of the match, “I think all the guys pretty much believer they can beat anybody,” UCLA’s Nick Meister said.
Meister is sporting a full beard, not having shaved since Jan. 20.
Meister and a teammate have both been growing out their facial hair for the season, trying to see how ragged they would look by the time the team reached Athens.
“I trimmed mine last week, so I kind of cheated,” Meister said.
Battling illness
California’s Ben McLachlan demonstrated considerable perseverance, taking the court two days after being taken to the UGA Health Center with a 103-degree temperature and a strep-throat diagnosis.
At No. 1 singles in the Bears’ 4-0 loss to Virginia, McLachlan was trailing Jarmere Jenkins 3-6, 6-5 when the match was clinched for the Cavaliers. Jenkins, of College Park, is ranked No. 4 in the country in the ITA rankings. McLachlan is ranked No. 37. His temperature was down to 101 degrees Thursday and 98 degrees Friday morning.
“Ben’s a fighter out there all day long,” Cal coach Peter Wright said.
Getting ready
The Georgia women’s tennis team had a relatively light day prepping for its 4 p.m. Saturday quarterfinal match against Duke.
After defeating Texas 4-0 on Thursday night, the Bulldogs slept in late, got massages, practiced at the school’s intramural courts and returned to the team hotel for treatment.
“They just seemed eager to keep it going and get that next match going,” Georgia coach Jeff Wallace said.
Duke and Georgia last met during the semifinals of the 2009 NCAA tournament, won 5-2 by the Blue Devils.
“Most of the [team members] didn’t even know that match happened,” Wallace said. “It’s really just about right now and just about the match [Saturday], and it should be an epic battle.”
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