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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
NCAA Individual Championships
Gard Moves Into Elite Eight At NCAA Singles
5/27/2005 | Men's Tennis
May 27, 2005
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Ole Miss men's tennis senior Catalin Gard continued his quest for a national championship, defeating Florida State's Matt Cloer to reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championship Friday, at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center.
In his first two rounds, Gard won in straight sets, but this time it would take three. After claiming the first set 6-2, Gard lost the second 6-4. Gard had chances in that set to go up a break, but instead got broken in the seventh game. He would break back, but then in the 10th game Cloer broke to win the set. Gard would gain a break at 1-1 in the third set and go on to win 6-3. Cloer, ranked No. 26 in the nation, led Florida State to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" where they upset the No. 5 seed, Illinois, in the first round.
"I played a good first set," Gard said. "In the second, I was up 3-2 and 30-15, when I missed an easy volley. He came back and then he broke me. I lost my serve again at 4-5. I got a break early in the third and was able to hang on. He played well. I am happy to be moving on, and hopefully I can keep it going."
Gard will face Pierrick Ysern of San Diego in the quarterfinals. Ysern, ranked No. 10 in the nation, knocked out the No. 7 seed, Ryler DeHeart of Illinois. This will be the second meeting of the year between Ysern and Gard. Gard defeated Ysern 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals of the ITA All-American Championships in the fall on his way to capturing the title.
"Ysern is a good player, a lefty who likes to slice the ball," Gard said. "He likes to run around a lot. When we played in the fall it was indoors, and I served well. He will be much tougher outside. I am looking forward to it."
Gard, the No. 4 seed in the field of 64, is one of only three of the top eight seeds remaining in the draw. The No. 1 seed, Benedikt Dorsch of Baylor and the No. 3 seed, Jesse Witten of Kentucky, are the other two top eight seeds left.
The 2004 SEC Player of the Year, Gard is seeking to join former All-Americans Joakim Appelqvist (1994), Johan Hede (1996) and Sebastien DeChaunac (1997) as NCAA Singles Semifinalists.
Earlier this week, Gard helped lead the 2005 SEC Champion Rebels to the NCAA Final Four before losing to eventual National Champion, UCLA in a hard-fought 4-2 match. The Rebels ended the year ranked No. 3 in the nation, marking their sixth top five finish in the last 10 years.
NCAA SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS - COLLEGE STATION, Texas
Third round - Catalin Gard (OM) def. Matt Cloer (FSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
