Feb. 18, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team returned to its winning ways Friday as the Knights rolled to 5-2 victory over No. 70 Troy at the UCF Tennis Complex. UCF (3-3) swept doubles play, and then won four of six singles matches.
The Knights were playing at home for the first time since Jan. 23, and snapped a three-contest losing streak with the victory. Troy fell to 1-8 with the loss.
"Our guys competed hard today," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "The doubles set the tone for us and we continued to compete throughout the entire match. We challenged our guys this week and they answered the call."
At the No. 1 doubles spot, senior Blaze Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla.) and junior Joe Delinks (Falmouth, Mass.) got past the Trojans' Mario Rolemberg and Branko Weber, 8-6. Facing Sami Ghorbel and Anas Rouchidi, junior Eugene Dolgovykh (Palm Coast, Fla.) and freshman Matthew Zachary (Bossier City, La.) picked up an 8-4 win at No. 2. At No. 3, junior Claudio Romano (Valencia, Venezuela) teamed with freshman Mitch Thams (Queensland, Australia) to defeat Niklas Jonsson and Mansingh Athare (8-3).
The success continued in singles. Dolgovykh was a quick 6-3, 6-4 winner over Jonsson at No. 6, and freshman Matthew Gladstone (Surfside, Fla.) got past Jamie Eccleton at No. 5 (7-5, 6-3).
Schwartz held off Weber, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, at No. 1, and Delinks beat Rolemberg at the No. 4 position, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
The match was the first of nine-straight in Orlando for the Knights. UCF will return to action Sunday, hosting North Florida at 11 a.m. Admission is free at the UCF Tennis Complex.
UCF 5, #70 Troy 2
Singles competition
1. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) def. Branko Weber (TROY) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
2. Anas Rouchdi (TROY) def. Claudio Romano (UCF) 6-3, 3-6, 10-7
3. Sami Ghorbel (TROY) def. Erik Brunskog (UCF) 7-6, 7-6
4. Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Mario Rolemberg (TROY) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
5. Matthew Gladstone (UCF) def. Jamie Eccleton (TROY) 7-5, 6-3
6. Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) def. Niklas Jonsson (TROY) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Blaze Schwartz/Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Mario Rolemberg/Branko Weber (TROY) 8-6
2. Matthew Zachary/Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) def. Sami Ghorbel/Anas Rouchdi (TROY) 8-4
3. Claudio Romano/Mitch Thams (UCF) def. Niklas Jonsson/Mansingh Athare (TROY) 8-3