Marcaccio Crashes Stanford Party

Gustavo Marcaccio of Arizona State spoiled what was rapidly becoming an annual Stanford intramural match at the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament, squeezing into the Pacific 10 Conference men’s singles final by beating Geoff Abrams of the Cardinal on Saturday.

The past two years, Stanford teammates were pitted against each other. On the losing end both times was Ryan Wolters, who today will take his third crack at a title.

Marcaccio, a quick senior from Argentina who says his listing of 5 feet 8 in the media guide is generous, frustrated Abrams by getting to balls that appeared to be winners. The hustle made the difference in a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

“I’d rather it was two of our guys again, but this is a tribute to Arizona State,” Stanford Coach Dick Gould said. “They really earned it.”

Wolters had difficulty early with Arizona State senior Jeff Williams in the other semifinal, winning the first set, 7-6, before rolling, 6-0, in the second.

“At least I don’t have to play one of my teammates this year,” Wolters said. “I was pulling for Geoff to win, of course, but it’s tough to play somebody you hang out with. This will make it easier to pump myself up.”

Marissa Irvin of Stanford advanced to the final in women’s singles and doubles.

The freshman from Harvard-Westlake High defeated Amy Jensen of California, 6-2, 6-1, and still has not lost a set.

Irvin will play Ditta Huber of USC, who eliminated Irvin’s doubles partner, Teryn Ashley, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, in a semifinal.