Jan. 12, 2013
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Competing for the first time in 2013, the UCF men's tennis team split a pair of matches at the FSU Indoor Facility Saturday, topping Florida A&M, 4-2, and falling to No. 32 Florida State, 7-0.
After facing the host Seminoles in the morning, the Knights bounced back against Florida A&M. UCF took four singles victories, highlighted by a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 3 for Jose Sangroniz over Takura Happy. The freshman, who enrolled at UCF earlier this month, was participating in his first collegiate competition.
Matthew Gladstone and Juan Bolona also picked up victories against the Rattlers. Gladstone topped Admire Mushonga, 6-0, 7-5, at No. 5. Facing Temuera Asafu-Adjaye at No. 5, Bolona held on for a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win.
"The guys rebounded well and played with a purpose in singles after losing a hard-fought doubles point," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "Gladstone's on-court presence was contagious and helped set the tone for us all the way through in singles."
UCF began the day with a tough contest against the Seminoles, falling 7-0. In doubles, the Knights picked up a win at No. 2 where Francesc Aulina and Pedro Wagner held off Anderson Reed and Blake Davis, 8-7. UCF's best effort in singles came at the top spot where Jorge Blasco took Jordan Kelly-Houston to a third-set tiebreaker before falling 7-6, 2-6, 1-0.
"We were unable to sustain momentum and take advantage of our opportunities against a tough Florida State team," Cashman said. "We'll get back and learn from this."
The Knights will play a total of 23 matches this spring. The team will return to action on Jan. 23 at No. 12 Florida.
UCF 4, Florida A&M 2
Singles Competition
1. Salif Kante (FAMU) def. Jorge Blasco (UCF) 6-4, 7-5
2. Amar Hromic (UCF) vs. Chidi Gabriel (FAMU) no result
3. Jose Sangroniz (UCF) def. Takura Happy (FAMU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Matthew Gladstone (UCF) def. Admire Mushonga (FAMU) 6-0, 7-5
5. Juan Bolona (UCF) def. Temuera Asafu-Adjaye (FAMU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
6. Mario Samson (UCF) def. No player (FAMU) walkover
Doubles Competition
1. Takura Happy/Salif Kante (FAMU) def. Juan Bolona/Amra Hromic (UCF) 8-4
2. Chidi Gabriel/Admire Mushonga (FAMU) def. Matthew Gladstone/Francesc Aulina (UCF) 8-5
3. Mario Samon/Sean Meunier (UCF) def. No player/No player (FAMU) walkover
No. 32 Florida State 7, UCF 0
Singles Competition
1. Jordan Kelly-Houston (FSU) def. Jorge Blasco (UCF) 7-6, 2-6, 1-0
2. #107 Dominic Cotrone (FSU) def. Amar Hromic (UCF) 7-5, 7-5
3. #99 Benjamin Lock (FSU) def. Pedro Wagner (UCF) 6-3, 7-5
4. Anderson Reed (FSU) def. Jose Sangroniz (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
5. Andres Bucaro (FSU) def. Francesc Aulina (UCF) 6-1, 6-4
6. Michael Rinaldi (FSU) def. Mario Samson (UCF) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Lock/Cotrone (FSU) def. Bolona/Hromic (UCF) 8-4
2. Aulina/Wagner (UCF) def. Reed/Davis (FSU) 8-7
3. Gauer/Rinaldi (FSU) def. Gladstone/Samson (UCF) 8-6