April 4, 2014
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Dan Forcella
UCFKnights.com
Results (pdf) | Results (html) | Photo Gallery
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF men's tennis team finished up its home schedule with a hard fought 4-3 victory over visiting Troy on Friday afternoon at the UCF Tennis Complex.
The no. 57-ranked Knights went down early as the Trojans picked up the first point of the match with a pair of victories in doubles play. Troy struck first with an 8-2 win at number one doubles. UCF countered quickly as senior Matthew Gladstone - playing in his final home match as a Knight - and Francesc Aulina won 8-2 at number two doubles.
Troy's Gabriel Sciacca Dias and Daniel Bustamante eventually earned their squad the first point of the match when they topped UCF's Inaki Espindola and Chris Barrus by a score of 8-6 at number three doubles.
It was freshman Reece Acree who got things going for the Knights in singles play, winning 6-1, 6-2 at the number six position to tie things up at 1-1. After Troy took the advantage at 2-1 with a win at number one, UCF tied it again. Sophomore Jose Sangroniz won 7-6 (1), 6-1 at number five to make it 2-2.
Aulina then gave the Knights their first advantage with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at number two singles to put UCF up 3-2. It marked the junior's team-leading 13th singles win of the season.
Troy's three-set win at number four put everything on number three singles. Espindola won set one against the Trojans' Bustamante, but then fell 5-7 in set two. The UCF freshman came back to win the third and final set 6-3 and give the Knights the 4-3 win.
UCF improves to 12-6 on the season with the win, while Troy falls to 7-15. The Knights will continue regular season action next weekend, playing at Memphis and Middle Tennessee on April 11 and 13, respectively.
Singles competition
1. Gabriel Sciacca Dias (TROY) def. Matthew Gladstone (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
2. Francesc Aulina (UCF) def. Sami Ghorbel (TROY) 6-2, 6-3
3. Inaki Espindola (UCF) def. Daniel Bustamante (TROY) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
4. Pablo Moreno (TROY) def. Chris Barrus (UCF) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
5. Jose Sangroniz (UCF) def. Tommy Cundy (TROY) 7-6 (7-1), 6-1
6. Reece Acree (UCF) def. Mansingh Athare (TROY) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Pablo Moreno/Sami Ghorbel (TROY) def. Jesse Flores/Amar Hromic (UCF) 8-2
2. Francesc Aulina/Matthew Gladstone (UCF) def. Tommy Cundy/Mansingh Athare (TROY) 8-2
3. Gabriel Sciacca Dias/Daniel Bustamante (TROY) def. Inaki Espindola/Chris Barrus (UCF) 8-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,1,5,2,4,3)