Jan. 28, 2012
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By DavidBuchman
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO,Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team picked up its first victory of the season Saturday with a 6-1 defeat over Jacksonville at the UCF Tennis Complex.
The Knights opened play by winning two-of-three doubles matches to claim the first point of the afternoon. Matthew Gladstone (Surfside, Fla.) and Juan Bolona (Miami, Fla.) defeated Jose Fantova and Eduardo Martinez at the No. 2 position 8-3. At No. 3, Mario Samson (Miami, Fla.) and Joe Delinks (Falmouth, Mass.) claimed victory over Matt Hansen and Eimon Heywood 8-3.
"I thought the guys picked each other up well today in doubles," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman. "Picking up the doubles point was our Achilles heel last year so it was good for us to get out and win the point with a start like that today."
Success in doubles carried over to singles for the Knights, as Delinks, Bolona and Samson each won their matches. Erik Brunskog (Linkoping, Sweden) picked up his first singles victory of the season over Fantova 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. At the top position, Jorge Blasco (Alicante, Spain) continued from where he left off last week and defeated this weekend's opponent, Fernando Lopez, 6-2, 6-0.
The Knights return to action Sunday, Feb. 5 as they host Georgia Southern at the UCF Tennis Complex with a 1:30 p.m. start.
UCF 6, Jacksonville 1
Singles competition
1. Jorge Blasco (UCF) def. Fernando Bano Lopez (JU) 6-2, 6-0
2. Erik Brunskog (UCF) def. Jose Fantova (JU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. Mario Samson (UCF) def. Larry Condez (JU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
4. Richard Casagrande (JU) def. Matthew Gladstone (UCF) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
5. Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Eduardo Martinez (JU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Juan Bolona (UCF) def. Eimon Heywood (JU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Richard Casagrande/Fernando Bano Lopez (JU) def. Erik Brunskog/Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) 8-6
2. Matthew Gladstone/Juan Bolona (UCF) def. Jose Fantova/Eduardo Martinez (JU) 8-3
3. Mario Samson/Joe Delinks (UCF) def. Matt Hansen/Eimon Heywood (JU) 8-3