March 18, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
HOUSTON (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team opened play at the Rice Invitational Friday with an impressive 4-1 victory over No. 60 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Jake Hennis Stadium. The Knights started the match by taking the doubles point, and also won three singles contests.
The match was the first of three in Houston for the Knights (7-9) this weekend. The Islanders fell to 9-7 with the loss.
UCF recorded victories at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. At the top spot, junior Eugene Dolgovykh (Palm Coast, Fla.) joined freshman Matthew Zachary (Bossier City, La.) for an 8-6 triumph over Laurent Montoisy and Gergo Weidinger. Facing Matt Westmoreland and Robert Raguz at No. 3, senior Claudio Romano (Valencia, Venezuela) and freshman Mitch Thams (Queensland, Australia) picked up a 9-7 victory.
The Knights were meeting a nationally-ranked team for fourth-straight match.
In singles, Romano defeated Aurelien Tave, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3. UCF also registered victories at No. 4 and No. 5. Thams topped Westmoreland (6-4, 6-3) at No. 5. At No. 4, junior Joe Delinks (Falmouth, Mass.) beat Raguz, 6-4, 7-5.
UCF will face another ranked team Saturday when the squad continues play in Houston against No. 41 Rice.
UCF 4, #60 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1
Singles competition
1. Laurent Montoisy (TXCC) vs. Erik Brunskog (UCF) 6-3, 4-6, 4-3, unfinished
2. James Langford (TXCC) def. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
3. Claudio Romano (UCF) def. Aurelien Tave (TXCC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Robert Raguz (TXCC) 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-4
5. Mitch Thams (UCF) def. Matt Westmoreland (TXCC) 6-4, 6-2
6. Gergo Weidinger (TXCC) vs. Mario Samson (UCF) 2-6, 6-4, 5-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Blaze Schwartz/Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Laurent Montoisy/Gergo Weidinger (TXCC) 8-5
2. James Langford/Aurelien Tave (TXCC) vs. Eugene Dolgovykh/Matthew Zachary (UCF) 5-6, unfinished
3. Claudio Romano/Mitch Thams (UCF) def. Matt Westmoreland/Robert Raguz (TXCC) 8-6