Mary Washington Freshmen UMW's Evan Charles and Donato Rizzolo Top Redlands Duo to Advance to NCAA Doubles Semifinals
![Mary Washington Freshmen UMW's Evan Charles and Donato Rizzolo Top Redlands Duo to Advance to NCAA Doubles Semifinals](/images/mten/2011-2012/charles.jpg?max_width=650)
University of Mary Washington freshmen Evan
Charles and Donato Rizzolo won a
three-set decision over Mark Bloom and Patrick lipscomb of the
University of Redlands in the national quarterfinals of the NCAA
Division III national doubles championship on Friday in Cary, N.C.
The Eagles won by a score of 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, avenging a regular
season loss to the Redlands duo.
Charles and Rizzolo, like in Thursday's first round, started
slowly, falling behind, 3-0, in the first set. The teams traded
points on serve to move the score to 4-1 in favor of Redlands, and
despite several break points, UMW fell in the first set, 6-3. The
second saw the Eagles come out firing on all cylinders, jumping out
to a 3-0 lead. Redlands responded with a break and hold to move the
score to 3-2, and the teams traded points on serve until UMW led,
6-5. The Eagles broke serve and gained the second set with a lob
winner on set point to tie the match at one set apiece.
In the third, Rizzolo opened by holding serve, and UMW broke and
held to push the score to 3-0. After both teams held twice, the
Eagles led, 5-2, and broke serve on the third match point to come
away with the 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win.
The duo will compete in the national semifinals on Saturday morning
at 10 a.m. against either Gustavus Adolphus or Bates College.