March 19, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
HOUSTON (UCFAthletics.com) - Playing a nationally-ranked team for the second time in two days, the UCF men's tennis team came up short at No. 41 Rice Saturday, falling 4-1 at Jake Hennis Stadium. The contest was part of the 53rd annual Rice Invitational.
The Owls (11-4) took the doubles point, and then won three singles matches to post the win.
UCF (7-9) was facing a ranked opponent for the fifth-straight contest.
In singles, Rice recorded wins at No. 1, where Harry Fowler, the 87th-ranked player in the country, topped freshman Erik Brunskog (6-0, 6-1), and at No. 2 and No. 4.
The Knights were victorious at the No. 6 spot, where freshman Matthew Zachary handled Michael Nusslein, 6-4, 6-2.
UCF opened play in Houston on Friday, defeating No. 60 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 4-1.
The Knights will conclude the Rice Invitational Sunday morning against No. 50 USF.
#41 Rice 4, UCF 1
Singles competition
1. #87 Harry Fowler (RICE) def. Erik Brunskog (UCF) 6-0, 6-1
2. Oscar Podlewski (RICE) def. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) 7-6, 6-1
3. Sam Garforth-Bles (RICE) vs. Claudio Romano (UCF) 7-5, 4-4, unfinished
4. Christian Saravia (RICE) def. Mitch Thams (UCF) 6-1, 6-1
5. Philipp Seifert (RICE) vs. Mario Samson (UCF) 6-2, 2-6, 2-1, unfinished
6. Matthew Zachary (UCF) def. Michael Nuesslein (RICE) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Harry Fowler/Oscar Podlewski (RICE) def. Blaze Schwartz/Joe Delinks (UCF) 8-5
2. Michael Nuesslein/Philipp Seifert (RICE) vs. Eugene Dolgovykh/Matthew Zachary (UCF) 6-5, unfinished
3. Sam Garforth-Bles/Christian Saravia (RICE) def. Claudio Romano/Mitch Thams (UCF) 8-1