Jan. 31, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team was nearly perfect Saturday as the Knights recorded a pair of victories at the UCF Tennis Complex. UCF (3-1) began the day by posting a 5-2 win over North Florida and then eased past Bethune-Cookman, 6-1.
Head coach Bobby Cashman's Knights claimed all six of their doubles matches and won nine of 12 singles tilts during the day.
"Today the depth of our team came through in a big way for us. We faced a doubleheader and a few minor injuries, but all nine guys contributed and got the job done," Cashman said. "We had to juggle a few of the doubles pairings in the afternoon, but I thought we adjusted well and stuck with good doubles fundamentals. We're going to keep our momentum from the last three victories rolling into practices this week as we prepare for some stiff competition on the road."
The hosts started Saturday by taking all three doubles matches and four of six singles contests versus the Ospreys (2-1). At No. 2, junior Johan Beigart (Vaxjo, Sweden) was a 6-4, 6-0 winner over Marc Misanovic. Facing Kurt Gattiker at No. 3, junior Marc Rocafort (Barcelona, Spain) posted a 6-4, 6-2 win.
Senior Blaze Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla.) and freshman Eugene Dolgovykh (Palm Coast, Fla.) both recorded 6-4, 6-2 victories. Schwartz topped Marcos Chiaretti at No. 4, while the rookie handled Ronnie Sang at No. 5.
At the top doubles spot, Begiart and sophomore Claudio Romano (Valencia, Venezuela) beat Misanovic and Federico Levi, 8-3.
Against Bethune-Cookman (0-3), the Knights again won all three doubles tilts. Rocafort joined freshman Joe Delinks (Falmouth, Mass.) at No. 1 to register an 8-2 win over Christian Cruz and Emil Vassiley.
Facing Yannick Jackson at No. 1 singles, senior Tarek Ben Soltane (Tunis, Tunisia) was a 6-2, 6-2 winner. Beigart, Schwartz, senior Danny Colon and Delinks all won singles contests against the Wildcats.
The Knights are slated to return to action Thursday, facing seventh-ranked Florida in Gainesville.
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UCF 5, North Florida 2
Singles competition
1. Federico Levi (UNF) def. Tarek Ben Soltane (UCF) 6-1, 6-1
2. Johan Beigart (UCF) def. Marc Misanovic (UNF) 6-4, 6-0
3. Marc Rocafort (UCF) def. Kurt Gattiker (UNF) 6-4, 6-1
4. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) def. Marcos Chiaretti (UNF) 6-4, 6-2
5. Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) def. Ronnie Sang (UNF) 6-4, 6-2
6. Graham Edgar (UNF) def. Danny Colon (UCF) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Johan Beigart/Claudio Romano (UCF) def. Federico Levi/Marc Misanovic (UNF) 8-3
2. Brock Sakey/Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Marcos Chiaretti/Kurt Gattiker (UNF) 8-6
3. Danny Colon/Blaze Schwartz (UCF) def. Ronnie Sang/Graham Edgar (UNF) 8-1
UCF 6, Bethune-Cookman 1
Singles competition
1. Tarek Ben Soltane (UCF) def. Yannick Jackson (BCU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Johan Beigart (UCF) def. Emil Vassilev (BCU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) def. Stefan James (BCU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Christian Cruz (BCU) def. Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) 2-6, retired
5. Danny Colon (UCF) def. Kristofer Martin (BCU) 7-5, 2-6 (11-9)
6. Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Vitor Belucci (BCU) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Joe Delinks/Marc Rocafort (UCF) def. Emil Vassilev/Christian Cruz (BCU) 8-2
2. Blaze Schwartz/Johan Beigart (UCF) def. Yannick Jackson/Jeffrey Smallwood (BCU) 8-1
3. Tarek Ben Soltane/Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) def. Stefan James/Kristofer Martin (BCU) 8-5