Nov. 4, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team concluded play at the USTA Clay Court Invitational at Disney Sunday. Three Knights were in action at ESPN Wide World of Sports, including Francesc Aulina, who had an impressive run to the Spear Draw finals.
Aulina was playing in his first tournament of the fall after missing the entire 2012 spring campaign due to a serious injury. On Sunday, he battled USTA-sponsored junior Chase Perez-Blanco and fell 6-1, 6-0. Despite the defeat in the finals, Aulina's return was a positive one.
"We are so happy to have him back out there," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "He came out here and competed against some very good players and fought and battled each day."
Matthew Gladstone closed the event with a win. In the Spear Consolation bracket, he topped Anish Sharma of Georgia Tech, 6-4, 6-4. Jorge Blasco was also in action. In the Gold Consolation bracket, he dropped a 6-2, 6-2 match to Tulsa's Alejandro Espejo Sanchez.
The event was the final tournament of the fall for the Knights. UCF will open its spring dual-match schedule on Jan. 23 at Florida.