Jan. 29, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team hosted 32nd ranked Rice on Saturday. Even though the contest against the Conference USA foe was shortened due to rain, the teams finished all three doubles matches. The match served as the season opener for the Knights.
Senior Nikolas Overkemping (Bonn, Germany) and sophomore Johan Beigart (Vaxjo, Sweden) won at the No. 1 spot against Rice's Ralph Knupfer and Tobias Scheil. Overkemping and Beigart were ahead by just one game before rain stopped play. After coming back from the break, the tandem continued to roll, winning the match, 8-5.
On Friday, the Knights resume their tough schedule against the No. 14 Florida in Gainesville. After heading south to face Miami on Tuesday, the Gators will return home to face UCF on Friday.
The Gators feature three singles players ranked in the top-75 nationally. Greg Ouellette, ranked 8th, finished last season with a 20-3 overall record. Freshman Alex Lacroix and junior Nestor Briceno are 57th and 62nd, respectively.
Team Notebook
FACING THE BEST
? Florida is one of four nationally-ranked teams on the Knights schedule. On Feb. 15, the Knights travel south to No. 36 Miami. The matches against No. 57 Georgia State (March 5) and No. 66 Denver (March 22) are both at home.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
? Overkemping and Beigart are now 1-0 in doubles. The pair knocked off Rice's No. 1 spot in doubles.
QUICKEST TRIGGER
? In less than a month, UCF will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. for the C-USA Shootout. The tournament starts on Feb. 22 and will feature UAB, East Carolina and Southern Miss. The Knights have went 3-0 two years in a row at the event.