Jan. 20, 2012
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By David Buchman
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO,Fla. (UCFAthletics.com)- The UCF men's tennis team is set to play Wake Forest on Sunday at 11 a.m. in the first of its 21 matches this spring. The season opener, which is the first of 13 home events at the UCF Tennis Complex, is free for all to attend.
Play will open with doubles, and the possible pairing of junior Juan Bolona (Miami, Fla.) and sophomore Mitch Thams (Queensland, Australia) is something Knights fans should keep an eye on. During the fall season, the duo won five of its first seven matches before coming up just short in the final two.
Thams and Bolona claimed the doubles title at the inaugural State of Florida Championship in Tampa and were the Knights only doubles pair to win an event in the fall.
"It was nice to see a young coupling play the way those two did," head coach Bobby Cashman said. "They learned some valuable lessons on the court during the fall, and I'm looking forward to seeing how their games progress this spring."
Thams and Bolona were just as successful in singles play in the fall. The two led the team with a combined 14 wins, while Bolona led the team with an overall record of 8-7. Thams claimed the biggest victory of the fall for the Knights when he beat No. 69 opponent Tripper Carleton of Florida during the round of 64 at the ITA Southeast Regionals.
As for Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons come in to Sunday's event ranked No. 41 in the nation with junior Danny Kreyman ranked No. 115 on the individual charts.