Feb. 19, 2010
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
BOCA RATON, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team improved to 3-1 on the season Friday, registering a 4-3 win over host Florida Atlantic at Patch Reef Park. The Knights took the first point of the day by sweeping doubles play, and then claimed wins at three singles spots.
UCF clinched the match after senior Johan Beigart (Vaxjo, Sweden) posted a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win at No. 6 over Matthew Braunworth. The Knights also picked up victories at the No. 4 and No. 5 singles positions.
"Today we faced a very tough and determined squad from FAU, but we fought very well at every position," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "From the start of the season we have preached the importance of our doubles and it is on days like today that we see how important it is. We played aggressive doubles and I'm proud of the execution from all three doubles positions."
Florida Atlantic (3-3) head coach Brandon Stokes served as an assistant coach at UCF from 2006-08.
At the No. 3 doubles spot, sophomore Claudio Romano (Valencia, Venezuela) and senior Brock Sakey (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) eased to an 8-2 win over Braunworth and Ervin Garibovic. Facing Joshua Scholl and Derek Madon at No. 2, Beigart and sophomore Joe Delinks (Falmouth, Mass.) rolled to an 8-3 triumph. At the top spot, senior Marc Rocafort (Barcelona, Spain) and junior Blaze Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla.) held off Marc Abdelnour and Lawrence Harradine, 9-7.
Sakey recorded a singles win at No. 4. He topped Scholl, 6-3, 6-4. At No. 5, Schwartz defeated Madon (6-3, 6-4).
The contest was the first of two this weekend in south Florida for the Knights. On Sunday, UCF will meet Miami at Noon at the Ashe-Buchholz Tennis Center at Moore Park in Miami.
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.
UCF 4, Florida Atlantic 3
Singles competition
1. Marc Abdelnour (FAU) def. Marc Rocafort (UCF) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
2. Lawrence Harradine (FAU) def. Claudio Romano (UCF) 7-5, 6-3
3. Ervin Garibovic (FAU) def. Nino Hasandedic (UCF) 7-5, 7-5
4. Brock Sakey (UCF) def. Joshua Scholl (FAU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) def. Derek Madon (FAU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Johan Beigart (UCF) def. Matthew Braunworth (FAU) 7-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Blaze Schwartz/Marc Rocafort (UCF) def. Marc Abdelnour/Lawrence Harradine (FAU) 9-7
2. Johan Beigart/Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Joshua Scholl/Derek Madon (FAU) 8-3
3. Claudio Romano/Brock Sakey (UCF) def. Matthew Braunworth/Ervin Garibovic (FAU) 8-2