Sept. 15, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF's Jorge Blasco began the fall campaign for the UCF men's tennis team in strong fashion this weekend in Gainesville. Competing at the Bedford Cup, which features participants from 11 Division I programs from Florida, Blasco won a pair of matches in advancing to the round of 16.
The senior's biggest win in Gainesville came on Friday in the first round. Facing Florida State's Andres Bucaro, the eighth-seeded singles player at the event, Blasco rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. The match took three-and-a-half hours to complete.
In the second round Saturday, Blasco again rallied for a win. After falling behind early against Jackson Moore of Florida Gulf Coast, Blasco came back to post a 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 victory. Blasco's run came to an end in the round of 16 Saturday afternoon when he fell to Federico Sabogal of USF (2-6, 6-0, 6-1).
"Jorge played with great heart and determination," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "He fought and competed and battled. Against Bucaro, he refused to give up or back down and that was a hard-fought win."
Mario Samson also competed for the Knights in Gainesville. In his first-round match, he fell 6-2, 6-1 to Egor Pahyuskin of Stetson.
The tournament in Gainesville was the first of four this fall for the Knights. Next up for UCF is the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational in Fort Myers from Sept. 28-30.
Round of 16 - Sept. 15
Federico Sabogal (USF) def. Jorge Blasco (UCF) 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
Second Round - Sept. 15
Jorge Blasco (UCF) def. Jackson Moore (FGCU) 6-7, 7-6, 6-2
First Round - Sept. 14
Jorge Blasco (UCF) def. Andres Bucaro (FSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Egor Pahyuskin (Stetson) def. Mario Samson (UCF) 6-2, 6-1