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10/11/2008 - MEN'S TENNIS
Olivares historic run comes to an end
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TULSA, Okla. - After outlasting 36 of the top ITA men's tennis players in the nation, ETSU senior Enrique Olivares (Puerto Ordaz, Venezulea) fell just short of the finals, Saturday, losing to LSU's Michael Venus 7-6 (3), 6-1, at the D'Novo/ITA All-American Championships, in Tulsa, Okla.
In a tournament that features the top 40 ITA players in the nation, the No. 31st ranked Olivares dropped Ohio State's Balazs Novak 6-3, 6-2 during the Round of 64, before taking on 2008 NCAA runner-up John-Patrick (J.P.) Smith of Tennessee. As ETSU fans would recall, it was Smith that knocked out Olivares in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Singles Championships last May.
In the rematch Olivares would take it to Smith, dropping the 10th ranked Volunteer in straight sets.
Despite the loss against Venus, Olivares did pick up one victory on the day, defeating Virginia's Michael Shabaz. After dropping the first set tiebreaker 7-6, the ETSU great stormed back to take the final two sets 6-2, 6-3, setting up the semifinal showdown with Venus.
Even though Olivares didn't take home top honors this weekend, the No. 31st ranked player has had an outstanding fall season. In September, the ETSU senior captain won the prestigious Southern Intercollegiate Championship, in Athens, Ga., before reaching the finals of the Ranked Plus One Invitational, two weeks ago.
Also with his strong showing in Tulsa, Olivares becomes the first ETSU tennis player since 1992 to qualify for the ITA National Indoor Championships, which will take place later this fall.
