March 9, 2013
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By Mike Garabedian
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Following a four-match road stint, the UCF men's tennis team returns home to the UCF Tennis Complex to battle Cleveland State Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
After clinching the doubles point and a string of wins from Jorge Blasco, Matthew Gladstone and Francesc Aulina, the Knights were able to bounce back with a 4-3 victory over UC-Irvine Wednesday afternoon in California.
The victory over the Anteaters propelled the Knights back over .500 with an overall record of 7-6.
Blasco is currently riding a season-high five-match singles winning-streak, including a, 6-4, 6-4, defeat over San Diego State's Derick Seddiqui Tuesday, the No. 71 ranked singles player in the nation.
"We split on the road (2-2) and had a chance to win every contest if we did not surrender the doubles point," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "Once we learn how to start fast and capture that doubles point, we will be difficult to defend."
Cleveland State has a 3-6 record on the season, last playing and defeating St. Bonaventure, 6-1, Feb. 23. The squad is currently in Jacksonville for a Saturday afternoon match against North Florida before traveling to Orlando to play the following day.
The Knights are 3-0 all-time against the Vikings and have posted shutouts in all three occasions, last winning 9-0 in 1992.
This marks the first of a nine-match home stretch for the Knights before traveling to Memphis, Tenn., for the Conference USA Championship.