The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Helliar Wins Again At ITA All-American Tennis
10/1/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 30, 2013
TULSA, Okla. ----- UAB's Chris Helliar continued his torrid start to the fall tennis season by winning two more matches Monday at the ITA All-American Championships.
Helliar won an early morning pre-qualifying match over Oklahoma State's Vasili Caripi (6-0, 6-3) to earn a spot in the qualifying draw. Helliar then defeated No. 10 seed and 58th-ranked Eric Johnson of Southern California, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to Tuesday's second round.
Helliar, from Bournemouth, England, is now 11-0 in singles matches in two tournaments this fall. He will now meet Illinois' Farris Gosea in Tuesday's second round of qualifying at 2 p.m. CT at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on the University of Tulsa campus.
Meanwhile, UAB's other entry in the ITA All-American -- fellow senior Rafael Rondino -- fell in his opening round qualifying draw match, losing a tight three-setter to Dusty Boyer of Nebraska, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
Rondino had advanced earlier Monday when he downed Indiana's Sven Lalic, 6-2, 7-5 in his fourth round pre-qualifying match.
Helliar and Rondino are also entered in the qualifying draw of the doubles competition at the ITA All-American. The Blazer duo will go against Justin Carter and Melker Svard of UMBC in Tuesday's first round.
