April 21, 2001

MACON, GA -

Florida Atlantic University continued to dominate at the Trans America Athletic Conference Championship Saturday with a 5-0 victory over Stetson University in Macon, GA. The no. 51 Owls now advance to Sunday's championship match against no. 72 Central Florida.

FAU (20-4) won the doubles point with victories at no. 2 and no. 3. Doug Devriendt and Cristian Paiz defeated UCF's Libor Sedivak and Tobias Tangberg 8-5 while Fabio Faerman and Sandro Spotti defeated Piero Demichelli and Kyle Lapnow 9-7 at no. 3.

FAU quickly took a 2-0 lead when Paiz defeated Sedivak 6-4, 6-1 at no. 4. Doug Devriendt gave the Owls a 3-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Demichelli at no. 1. FAU clinched the match with simultaneous victories by Yalin Bilgin and Andre Buzzoni. Bilgin defeated Vittorio Fratta 6-2, 6-3 at no. 3 and Buzzoni upended Aleksandar Antonijevic 6-2, 6-3.

"The team just keeps getting stronger,' said FAU head coach Mike Wheelen. "We're peaking at just the right time."

FAU has outscored TAAC opponents 49-2 this season, including the TAAC Tournament. The 20 wins by the Owls is a milestone for the program. They will go after yet another first Sunday by playing for the TAAC Championship. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The match gets underway at 11:00am. FAU defeated UCF 6-1 March 31 in Boca Raton.

FAU 5, Stetson 0

Singles

1. Doug Devriendt (FAU) d. Piero Demichelli (SU) 6-2, 6-2.

2. Yalin Bilgin (FAU) d. Vittorio Fratta (SU) 6-2, 6-2.

3. Andre Buzzoni (FAU) d. Aleksandar Antonijevic (SU) 6-2, 6-3.

4. Sandro Spotti (FAU) vs. Aleksandar Nicin (SU), DNF.

5. Cristian Paiz (FAU) d. Libor Sedivak (SU) 6-4, 6-1.

6. Kodi Lewis (FAU) vs. Tobias Tangberg (SU), DNF.

Doubles

1. Bilgin/Martin Jirak (FAU) vs. Fratta/Nicin (SU), DNF.

2. Devriendt/Paiz (FAU) d. Sedivak/Tangberg (SU) 8-5.

3. Fabio Faerman/Spotti (FAU) d. Demichelli/Kyle Lapnow (SU) 9-8(4).