Nov. 4, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team began play at its final event of the fall, the UCF Invitational, Friday afternoon. The Knights, along with Arkansas, Auburn, Miami and Florida Gulf Coast, are competing in the three-day tournament at the UCF Tennis Complex.
UCF players picked up two singles wins and one doubles victory Friday.
Facing Auburn's Rafael Rondino, UCF junior Juan Bolona (Miami, Fla.) rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph. Sophomore Matthew Gladstone (Surfside, Fla.) also recorded a singles win. Gladstone handled Steve Binninger of Florida Gulf Coast, 6-0, 6-2.
In doubles action, junior Mario Samson (Miami, Fla.) joined sophomore Erik Brunskog (Linkoping, Sweden) for an 8-2 win over Binninger and Matthew Rock.
"We are very happy with the way Juan Bolona played," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "He stepped up today against an opponent who had the most wins in the SEC at No. 6 last year and that is saying a lot because that is the best tennis conference in the country. Overall, we need to do a better job of staying focused and competing the entire way through. Tomorrow will challenge us to do that once again."
The event is the fifth of the fall for the Knights.
Play at the tournament will resume Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The Knights will begin competition at 1:30 p.m., and admission is free.
Doubles:
Flores/Soto (UM) def. Zogaj/Ward (ARK) 8-5
Fess/Walters (ARK) def. Mauz/Nieto (UM) 8-3
Parlic/Hoang (ARK) def. Rock/Bao (FGCU) 8-4
Jeske/Nott (ARK) def. Beiler/Tsamas (FGCU) 9-7
Stomchev/Cochrone (Auburn) def. Thams/Bolona (UCF) 8-3
Lengsfeld/Lopasso (Auburn) def. DeLinks/Gladstone (UCF) 8-6
Wardell/Rondino (Auburn) def. Aulina/Dolgovykh (UCF) 8-3
Brunksog/Samson (UCF) def. Rock/Binninger (FGCU) 8-2
Singles:
Zogaj (ARK) def. Flores (UM) 6-4; 6-3
Aly (UM) def. Jeske (ARK) 6-2; 6-1
Soto (UM) def. Parlic (ARK) 5-7; 6-2; 6-4
Mauz (UM) def. Ward (ARK) 6-3; 7-5
Nieto (UM) def. Hoang (ARK) 3-6; 6-2; 7-5
Tsamas (FGCU) def. Walters (ARK) 2-6; 7-5; 6-4
Bao (FGCU) def. Nott (ARK) 6-4; 6-1
Fess (ARK) def. Beiler (FGCU) 6-3; 4-6; 6-1
Stamchev (Auburn) def. Aulina (UCF) 6-3; 6-2
Cochrone (Auburn) def. Thams (UCF) 6-3; 6-3
Lengsfeld (Auburn) def. Brunskog (UCF) 6-3; 6-3
Lopasso (Auburn) def. Samson (UCF) 7-5; 6-2
Bolona (UCF) def. Rondino (Auburn) 4-6; 6-2; 6-3
Wardell (Auburn) def. DeLinks (UCF) 4-6; 6-2; 6-1
Gladstone (UCF) def. Binninger (FGCU) 6-0; 6-2
Rock (FGCU) def. Dolgovykh (UCF) 1-6; 7-5; 6-3