Graziani/Sandler Punch NCAA Ticket at East Sectionals

PHILADELPHIA- Manfredi Graziani and Aaron Sandler of the University of Pennsylvania men's tennis team secured a spot in the NCAA Championships with a semifinals victory at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Sectionals Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Thursday

Senior Manfredi Graziani got the day off on the right foot, cruising past Constantinos Djakouris of UNC, 6-1, 6-1. The duo of Shaurya Bharadwaj and Vojtech Vales followed with an upset win over the second-seeded Andrade da Silva/Barbier Gazeu of South Carolina, 7-5, 6-4. Graziani then returned later to pair with junior Aaron Sandler, where the two defeated Charlotte's team of Dreycopp/Prata, 6-4, 2-6, 10-5.

Graziani will take on Paul Barbier Gazeu (South Carolina) today at 10 a.m. The team of S. Bharadwaj/Vales will set their sights on UNC's Mangiapane/Wright before Graziani and Sandler square off against Bryant's Machado/Baquero combo.

Friday

On Friday, Graziani fell to South Carolina's Paul Barbier Gazeu, 0-6, 7-6, 6-7. However, he was able to bounce back in the doubles portion, with the help of Sandler, against Machado and Baquero of Bryant, defeating them 7-5, 6-2. The doubles team of S. Bharadwaj & Vales were not as fortunate, falling to UNC's Mangiapane and Wright, 6-7, 4-6.

Saturday

The doubles team of Graziani & Sandler continued their great fall season but defeating #74 Stenzer/Daryabeigi of South Carolina, 6-4, 6-7(5), 12-10. This win is a significant one, as it punches the dynamic duo's ticket to the NCAA Championships in Orlando later this month. The doubles team will have one more match ahead of them, as they will take on UNC's Ian Mayew and Kase Schinnerer in the East Sectional finals.

RESULTS

Thursday, November 6

Singles

#117 Manfredi Graziani (Penn) def. Constantinos Djakouris (UNC), 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

Shaurya Bharadwaj/Vojtech Vales (Penn) def. Lucas Andrade da Silva/Paul Barbier Gazeu (South Carolina), 7-5, 6-4.

Manfredi Graziani/Aaron Sandler (Penn) def. Ivan Dreycopp/Vasco Prata (Charlotte), 6-4, 2-6, 10-5

Friday, November 7

Singles

Paul Barbier Gazeu (South Carolina) def. #117 Manfredi Graziani (Penn), 0-6, 7-6, 6-7

Doubles

Anthony Wright/Nicholas Mangiapane (UNC) def. Shaurya Bharadwaj/Vojtech Vales (Penn), 6-7, 4-6

Manfredi Graziani/Aaron Sandler (Penn) def. Miguel Angel Machado/Daniel Baquero (Bryant), 7-5, 6-2

Saturday, November 8

Manfredi Graziani/Aaron Sandler (Penn) def. Max Stenzer/Sean Daryabeigi (South Carolina), 6-4, 6-7(5), 12-10

Players Mentioned

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