KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Capital University men's tennis team wrapped up play at the ITA Central Regionals on Saturday afternoon with some great freshmen play. 

"We had a tremendous showing this weekend," said head coach Cody Hurley. "Leonardo (Abreu) started off the tournament slow dealing with some nerves, but ended up making quite an impressive run beating some tough players along the way."

After playing well on day one, freshmen pair Leonardo Abreu and Colin Welch were knocked out in the Consolation Quarterfinals against a very difficult Hope College pairing. Hope took the match by a score of 8-1. 

Welch and Abreu's win over the Rose-Hulman team yesterday proved to be a big win for the duo as R-H has sent a doubles team to the NCAA Championships every year for the last six years. 

In singles action, Abreu made Capital history at the event. He became the first player to reach the Quarterfinals in either the main or consolation bracket. In 2001, All-American Doug DiRisari advanced to the third round. 

In his matches today, Abreu defeated Joey Keal from Hanover in a overtime worthy match-up with a scoreline 7-6 (4), 0-6, 10-3. In the afternoon quarterfinal bout, Abreu's competition came to a close as he fell to Augustana's Arthur Hermange by scores of 6-2 and 6-0. 

"Winning one match at ITAs is a tough task, but to win three as a freshman is astounding," said Hurley on Abreu's performance. "His win with Colin (Welch) over Rose-Hulman's doubles team was also a fantastic result as they had been deep in the NCAA's for years. We are young across the entirety of our lineup and this was a great opportunity for our freshman to compete against some of the best players in the country. The future is bright!"

Capital tennis will return to action next Saturday as they travel to Geneva College for a rescheduled match. The contest is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. 

RECAP FROM DAY ONE
The Capital University men's tennis team sent a contingent of three athletes to the ITA Central Regionals this weekend. Competition began Friday and all three individuals were bumped to consolation rounds where two of them still remain in competition after day one. 

In doubles action, Colin Welch and Leonardo Abreu were narrowly defeated in their opening match but the ONU tandem of Peyton Specht and Drew Swisher. ONU won the bout by a margin of 8-2. Abreu and Welch were then sent to the consolation bracket where they took down the team from Rose Hulman by a score of 8-6. The pair advanced to the consolation quarterfinals where they will take on Hope College's doubles team at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. 

Abreu and Spencer Surles got a rough start in singles competition on Friday as both were relegated to the consolation bracket in straight sets by scores of 6-0, 6-0. 

In the consolation singles bracket, Abreu bounced back with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Greenville's Clark Kent.. The win advanced him to compete in the consolation round of 16 tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. 

Surles didn't bounce back as nicely as he was upended by Illinois Wesleyan's Demetrios Triantafel by scores of 6-0, 6-0. The loss ended his competition after two matches. 

Abreu and Welch will return to the court at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow in doubles, while Abreu will play singles at 11:30 a.m.