Nov. 7, 2012
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By Mike Garabedian
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's tennis team concluded its fall season this past weekend playing some of the toughest competition in the entire nation.
UCF participated in five events during the fall, posting strong outings in each of the singles and doubles matches in which they competed.
Jorge Blasco was off to a hot start to begin the fall, defeating Florida State's Andres Bucaro, the No. 8 singles player in a three-and-a-half hour marathon at the Bedford Cup. The following day, the senior from Spain rallied to defeat Jackson Moore of Florida Gulf Coast before falling to Federico Sabogal in the round of 16.
Following an impressive showing in Gainsville, Blasco continued his hot streak defeating Dylan Gunning of Florida Gulf Coast at the FGCU Fall Invite Sept. 28. That same day, Pedro Wagner won his first outing of the fall, defeating Barry's Olivier Lemaitre. In doubles action, the teams of Matthew Gladstone/Juan Bolona and Wagner/Francesc Aulina both advanced past the first round before falling prior to the semifinals.
"The new players were getting accustomed to how we do things here at UCF," head coach Bobby Cashman said. "The fall season should've helped them get in a routine and prepare them for the spring when we play on a weekly basis."
The Knights had their most successful event of the fall competing in Winter Park at the C.L. Varner Memorial Invitational on Oct. 7. The duo of Bolona and Amar Hromic captured the Flight A Doubles title, defeating Lynn's Vlad Cirla and Pavel Mohja, 8-6. Gladstone posted a 2-1 mark, while freshman Hromic nearly captured the singles title with a 3-1 record at the event.
At the ITA Regionals on the Florida State campus, Blasco battled against Georgia State's Robert Schulze before falling 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Hromic and Wagner both competed in the singles main draw but were bounced out of the tournament early.
The team concluded the season at the USTA Clay Court Invitational at Disney against seven of the top-50 schools in the nation, including defending national champion USC. Aulina rallied for an impressive 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over Tulsa's Tristian Jackson in the semifinals to advance to the Spear Draw finals before falling in the championship. In the Spear consolation bracket, Gladstone closed the season with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
"I was glad the way we finished the season strong," Cashman said. "Playing top notch schools in the fall has allowed us to get better as a team."
UCF will not be back in action until the new year. The Knights will begin the season on the road Jan. 23 against last year's 12th-ranked Florida.