ROME, Ga. – Valdosta State men's tennis junior Takeshi Taco opened the ITA Cup in Rome, Ga., with a straight-set victory over Nebraska-Kearney's Maksym Kulish Thursday morning, 6-2, 6-3, in the Round of 16. 
 
Taco advances to the quarterfinals on Friday at 12 p.m. versus the winner of Nico Ramirez of Biola (Calif.) and No. 2-seed Ruben Fonga of Tiffin.  Click here for the complete draw of the championship.
 
Against Kulish, Taco earned the early break for a 1-0 lead and then won 40-15 in the second game for a 2-0 lead.  Kulish won on his next serve as did Taco, but Taco earned a second break for a 4-1 lead as the players traded service victories for Taco's 6-2 opening set win. 
 
Taco once again earned the early break for a 2-1 lead in the second set.  Later, the players traded breaks at 5-3 for Kulish and 6-3 for Taco and the match winner in a match that lasted one hour, sixteen minutes.  Taco improved to 6-1 this season in singles for the Blazers.  
 
Check back with vstateblazers.com for a complete recap of Friday's quarterfinal match.