Feb. 23, 2006
ORLANDO - Despite a slow start in doubles play, the UCF men's tennis team recovered to post a 4-3 victory over Conference USA foe Memphis on Wednesday afternoon at the UCF Tennis Complex. Sophomore Sinan Sudas clinched the win for the Golden Knights (5-2), defeating Matt Brewer at No. 1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
The Tigers, who fall to 2-6 on the year, claimed the doubles point, but the hosts won four of six singles matches to earn the win.
"This was a tough match; a real dogfight," said UCF head coach Bobby Cashman. "Our doubles needs some work, but we hung in there and competed against a very good Conference USA team."
Freshmen Brock Sakey and Tarek Ben Soltane both won singles matches for the Golden Knights. Sakey was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Tezar Putra at No. 5. Ben Soltane eased to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 6 against Vinicius Craveiro.
The match was the first contest at UCF's "Conference USA Shootout." UCF is welcoming four league teams to Orlando for matches this weekend.
At No. 2, UCF junior Alamgir Wali topped Michael Jetter (7-5, 6-4).
The Golden Knights and Tigers were meeting for the first time. UCF is in its first year as a member of C-USA.
In doubles play, the Golden Knights won at No. 3 as junior Sebastian Delgado and Wali held on for a 9-8 (3) victory over Jetter and Garrison Pilant.
UCF returns to the courts on Saturday, hosting UAB at 9 a.m.
UCF 4, Memphis 3
Singles
1: Sinan Sudas (UCF) def. Matt Brewer (MEM) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
2: Alamgir Wali (UCF) def. Michael Jetter (MEM) 7-5, 6-4
3: James Spence (MEM) def. Sebastian Delgado (UCF) 6-3, 6-4
4: Sam Withell (MEM) def. Norman Alcantara (UCF) 6-2, 6-4
5: Brock Sakey (UCF) def. Tezar Putra (MEM) 6-1, 6-1
6: Tarek Ben Soltane (UCF) def. Vinicius Craveiro (MEM) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1: Spence/Withell (MEM) def. Alcantara/Sudas (UCF) 8-6
2: Brewer/Putra (MEM) def. Ben Soltane/Sakey (MEM) 8-5
3: Delgado/Wali (UCF) def. Jetter/Pilant (MEM) 9-8 (3)