Jan. 18, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team opened its fall campaign on Friday, competing at the USF Spring Classic. Three UCF players recorded singles wins and two pairs took double victories.
In Flight C singles competition, junior Tarek Ben Soltane (Tunis, Tunisia) sophomore Danny Colon (Jacksonville, Fla./Englewood) and freshman Blaze Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla./Washington) all recorded two-set wins. Ben Soltane defeated Daniel Daudt of host USF, 6-2, 6-0.
Facing Michel Monterio of Auburn, Colon posted a 6-2, 6-0 win. Schwartz got past USF's Thomas Estrada (6-4, 6-1).
Against USF's Lucas Jovita and Michael Musslein in Flight A doubles, senior Nikolas Overkemping (Bonn, Germany) and freshman Claudio Romano (Valencia, Valenzuela) held on for a 9-8(7) triumph. In Flight B, Ben Soltane and Colon defeated the Bulls' Diego Toledo and William Sousa, 8-5.
Friday marked the start of the three-day event. On Saturday, the Knights will face players from 35th-ranked Virginia Tech at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts. Head coach Bobby Cashman's squad will conclude the event on Sunday against players from No. 28 Auburn.
The Knights open their dual-match schedule on Jan. 26 against Rice in Orlando.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out www.ucfphotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Flight A Singles
Mahmoud Hamed (USF) def. Nikolas Overkemping (UCF), 7-5, 7-6 (3)
Lucas Jovita (USF) def. Johan Beigart (UCF), 6-2, 6-2
Flight B Singles
Jamaal Adderley (USF) def. Claudio Romano (UCF), 6-3, 7-5
Diego Toledo (USF) def. Sinan Sudas (UCF), 7-5, 6-3
Flight C Singles
Michael Musslein (USF) def. Brock Sakey (UCF), 6-4, 6-2
Blaze Schwartz (UCF) def. Thomas Estrada (USF), 6-4, 6-1
Tarek Ben Soltane (UCF) def. Daniel Daudt (USF), 6-2, 6-0
Danny Colon (UCF) def. Michel Monterio (AU), 6-3, 6-3
Flight A Doubles
Daudt/Estrada (USF) def. Beigart/Sakey (UCF), 8-4
Romano/Overkemping (UCF) def. Jovita/Musslein (USF), 9-8 (7)
Flight B Doubles
Hamed/Adderley (USF) def. Sudas/Schwartz (UCF), 8-4
Ben Soltane/Colon (UCF) def. Toledo/Sousa (USF), 8-5