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Bolona, Thams Take Doubles Title in Tampa

Sept. 26, 2011

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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com

TAMPA, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - On Monday, junior Juan Bolona (Miami, Fla.) and sophomore Mitch Thams (Queensland, Australia) of the UCF men's tennis team claimed the main draw doubles title at the inaugural State of Florida Championships at the USF Tennis Courts. The pair posted an 8-4 win over host USF's Wael Kilani and Federico Sabogal.

The event in Tampa, which started Friday, featured seven teams from the Sunshine State, including Florida State and Miami.

Bolona and Thams closed out the match Monday by winning four-straight games. The pair went 4-0 at the tournament.

"They played really well today," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said of Bolona and Thams. "They faced a team that is very difficult to play. We took over the net well. They are playing well as a doubles pair and should have great confidence moving forward."

Thams also competed in singles action Monday, falling 6-1, 6-1 to North Florida's Moritz Buerchner. He went 3-1 at the tournament.

"It was great for Mitch to have a breakout tournament," Cashman said. "Mitch did not play his best tennis today, but was able to redeem himself in doubles."

The event in Tampa was scheduled to end Sunday, but play was postponed due to rain.

The tournament was the second of the fall campaign for the Knights. UCF will return to action on Oct. 7 at the C.L. Varner Memorial Invitational in nearby Winter Park.