April 13, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Playing its final regular-season match, the UCF men's tennis team fell 4-3 to host Embry-Riddle at the Crotty Tennis Complex Wednesday. Embry-Riddle is the No. 2 ranked team nationally in NAIA.
The Knights (9-14) won the doubles point, but the hosts recovered to take four of six singles contests. Embry-Riddle improved to 12-6 with the win.
In singles action, UCF was victorious at No. 5 and No. 6. Freshman Mitch Thams (Queensland, Australia) handled David Spennare, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 5. Facing Sean De La Bastide, at No. 6, sophomore Mario Samson (Miami, Fla.) was a 6-2, 6-0 winner.
The Knights won at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. At the top spot, senior Blaze Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla.) joined junior Joe Delinks for an 8-4 triumph over Spennare and Chris Freeman.
UCF will now focus on the Conference USA Championship, which begins April 21 in Tulsa, Okla.
Embry-Riddle 4, UCF 3
Doubles
1. Schwartz/Delinks (UCF) def. Freeman/Spennare (ERAU) 8-4
2. Francis/Felix (ERAU) def. Dolgovykh/Zachary (UCF) 8-1
3. Thams/Vivas (UCF) def. Besch/ de la Bestide (ERAU) 8-4
Singles
1. Freeman (ERAU) def. Brunskog (UCF) 6-1; 6-1
2. Besch (ERAU) def. Romano (UCF) 6-7; 6-4; 7-6
3. Francis (ERAU) def. Schwartz (UCF) 5-7; 7-6; 6-4
4. Felix (ERAU) def. Delinks (UCF) 6-0; 6-0
5. Thams (UCF) def. Spennare (ERAU) 6-2; 6-1
6. Samson (UCF) def. de la Bestide (ERAU) 6-2; 6-0