April 19, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team opened the 2012 Conference USA Championship on its home court in strong fashion, rolling to a 4-0 victory over East Carolina Thursday afternoon at the UCF Tennis Complex. The Knights will face 23rd-ranked Tulsa Friday at 8 a.m. in quarterfinal action.
Due to the threat of inclement weather, UCF (10-12), the No. 9 seed at the event, and No. 8 East Carolina (13-11) were unable to play doubles matches. UCF quickly won four singles contests to claim the win. Erik Brunskog, Jorge Blasco, Mitch Thams and Joe Delinks all posted two-set wins.
Delinks clinched the win with a 7-5, 6-1 triumph at No. 6 over Mario Martinez. Brunskog was a speedy 6-2, 6-2 winner over Niels Cleeren at No. 2.
Facing Joran Vliegen at the top spot, Blasco also won 6-2, 6-2. Thams defeated Nicolas Soriano, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 3.
"We have had a lot of good practices and have been playing better," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "I told our guys to hang in there and today everything came together. That is the best tennis we have played all season, and now is when you are supposed to be playing your best."
UCF is hosting the C-USA Championship for the second time since joining the league in 2005. The 2009 tournament was also held in Orlando.
Admission is free for all matches at the tournament, including UCF's contest against Tulsa Friday morning. Four quarterfinal matches will be played Friday. The semifinals are set for Saturday, and the championship contest is Sunday.
UCF 4, EAST CAROLINA 0
SINGLES
1. Jorge Blasco, UCF def. Joran Vliegen, East Carolina, 6-2, 6-1
2. Erik Brunskog, UCF def. Niels Cleeren, East Carolina, 6-2, 6-2
3. Mitch Thams, UCF def. Nicolas Soriano, East Carolina 6-0, 6-2
4. John Schmitt, East Carolina vs. Juan Bolona, UCF, 2-6, 6-6 DNF
5. Damien Brenard, East Carolina vs. Mario Samson, UCF, 2-6, 4-6, 0-4 DNF
6. Joe Delinks, UCF def. Mario Martinez, East Carolina, 7-5, 6-1