Jan. 16, 2009
TULSA, Okla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team opened the 2009 spring campaign against one of the nation's premier teams Friday as the Knights fell 6-1 at No. 13 Tulsa. Sophomore Blaze Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla.) picked up the singles point for UCF (0-1) at the Case Tennis Center.
The Golden Hurricane, who improved to 2-0, opened the match by taking all three doubles tilts. Schwartz picked up a win at the No. 5 singles spot, where he rallied to top Marko Ballok, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.
Tulsa features two of the top players in the country in Arnau Brugues and Phillip Stephens. Brugues, who is ranked 10th nationally, was a 7-6 (3), 6-0 winner over junior Johan Beigart (Vaxjo, Sweden) at the top spot. Junior Marc Rocafort (Barcelona, Spain) faced No. 92 Phillip Stephens at No. 2 and fell 6-3, 6-4.
At No. 4, senior Brock Sakey (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) was unable to contain Ashley Watling, dropping a 7-6 (10), 6-4 contest.
"It was a tough first match indoors and it took us too long to adjust," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "After doubles we adjusted and we were competitive in the singles matches. We served for sets at No. 1 and No. 3, while Brock had set points in the first. We are looking forward to getting back home and playing outdoors."
At the No. 1 doubles positions, Brugues and Stephens, the fourth-ranked pair in the nation, topped Sakey and freshman Joe Delinks (Falmouth, Mass.), 8-4. Delinks and Sakey are ranked 60th.
The Knights will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 24, hosting Florida Gulf Coast at the UCF Tennis Complex.
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#13 Tulsa 6, UCF 1
Singles competition
1. #10 Arnau Brugues (TLS) def. Johan Beigart (UCF) 7-6 (3-0), 6-0
2. #92 Philip Stephens (TLS) def. Marc Rocafort (UCF) 6-3, 6-4
3. Victor Kolik (TLS) def. Tarek Ben Soltane (UCF) 6-3, 7-5
4. Ashley Watling (TLS) def. Brock Sakey (UCF) 7-6 (10-0), 6-4
5. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) def. Marko Ballok (TLS) 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
6. James Seagraves (TLS) def. Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #4 Arnau Brugues/Philip Stephens (TLS) def. #60 Joe Delinks/Brock Sakey (UCF) 8-4
2. Ross Cunningham/Victor Kolik (TLS) def. Tarek Ben Soltane/Blaze Schwartz (UCF) 8-4
3. Marko Ballok/Ashley Watling (TLS) def. Johan Beigart/Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) 8-4