Sept. 16, 2010
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By Sean Simon
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCF Athletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team starts its fall season Friday at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The majority of the team will travel to the event with eight Knights competing, including senior Blake Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla.) and junior Claudio Romano (Valencia, Venezuela).
The tournament, hosted by Florida, will include three days of play among players from the host Gators, North Florida and USF. The 2009 Gator Invitational was won by Florida with a split win in singles play and a capture of the doubles crown over Mississippi State, Miami and USF.
Romano and Schwartz both have experience facing Florida and USF players as both secured victories in the 2010 spring campaign. Romano won in doubles play over Florida 8-3 last spring, while Schwartz also dominated doubles play at both the spring and fall USF Invitationals. Schwartz ranked as high as No. 29 in the nation in doubles play last season with former UCF player Marc Rocafort.
The Black and Gold will compete in five tournaments this fall, finishing with the UCF Invitational Oct. 29-31.