Feb. 27, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - In the midst of an eight-match homestand, the UCF men's tennis team returns to the court Saturday when they host in-state rival No. 37 USF. First serve is at 1 p.m. at the UCF Tennis Complex and admission is free.
The Knights (5-4) roll into Saturday's affair with the Bulls (4-4) off of a 4-3 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette that saw the team drop the doubles point then proceed to win 4-of-6 singles tilts to claim the victory.
At the top spot, Tarek Ben Soltane (Tunis, Tunisia) claimed the three-set victory over Piotr Banas, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. The win gives the senior five on the year, and three at the first position.
The Knights then proceeded to collect victories from the middle of their lineup to top the Ragin Cajuns.
Marc Rocafort (Barcelona, Spain) cruised to a 6-3, 6-3, victory over Yanick Mandl to give the junior his fifth victory of the season, and second at the No. 3 spot.
Sophomore Blaze Schwartz (Pensecola, Fla.) kept his record unblemished at the No. 4 spot disposing Bradley Bristow, 6-2, 6-2, to move to 3-0. Schwartz leads the team with seven wins this season.
With a 6-2, 6-1, victory over Arlen Domoney, freshman Eugene Dolgovykh (Palm Coast, Fla.) kept up his strong play at the fifth spot and is now 6-3 on the season, with all six wins coming at the No. 5 position.
USF arrives in Orlando coming off of a 4-1 loss at home to No. 28 Auburn Thursday. It was the second straight match that they had faced an opponent from the SEC. The Bulls lost 7-0 to No. 11 Florida last Friday.
After the tilt with the Bulls, the Knights continue their homestand against in-state foe Florida Atlantic Friday, Mar. 6, at 11:30 a.m.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.