March 27, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - In a back-and-forth match, the UCF men's tennis team dropped a heartbreaker to No. 27 Tulsa, falling 4-3 in American Athletic Conference action at the UCF Tennis Complex on Friday morning.
UCF (13-8) held early leads in all three doubles matches, but Tulsa came back to post matching 6-4 wins at the number two and number three positions to claim the doubles point. Sophomores Chris Barrus and Inaki Espindola held a 5-4 lead at No. 1 doubles when Tulsa clinched the point.
The Knights came back in singles action to tie the match at 1-1 with a 6-1, 6-3 win from junior Jose Sangroniz at No. 2 singles. Tulsa reclaimed the lead with a straight set win by Carlos Bautista at No. 4 singles.
Chris Barrus, playing at the number two position for just the sixth time this season, evened the match with a 6-3, 7-5 win. Sophomore Reece Acree won his opening set at No. 6 singles, but Daniel Santos came back to win the second set and the tiebreaker to put the Hurricane back in front, 3-2.
Sophomore Mariano Porter won a thriller at the number five position to remain undefeated in singles action. After dropping his first set, 4-6, he came back to win the tiebreaker in the second set, 7-6 (12), and force a decisive third set. His 6-3 third set win knotted the match at 3-3 overall and put the decisive point on court one.
Senior Francesc Aulina won the opening set, 7-6 (4), but Or Ram-Harel, ranked 33rd nationally, came back to win the second set, 7-6 (4), and the decisive set, 6-1, to clinch the win for Tulsa.
UCF returns to action on April 3, hosting No. 57 Troy at the UCF Tennis Complex. The Knights and the Trojans are slated for a 10 a.m. start.
#27 Tulsa 4, UCF 3
Singles competition
1. #33 Or Ram-Harel (TULSA) def. Francesc Aulina (UCF) 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-1
2. Jose Sangroniz (UCF) def. Matthew Kirby (TULSA) 6-1, 6-3
3. Chris Barrus (UCF) def. Juan Matias Gonzalez (TULSA) 6-3, 7-5
4. Carlos Bautista (TULSA) def. Inaki Espindola (UCF) 6-2, 6-3
5. Mariano Porter (UCF) def. Dylan McCloskey (TULSA) 4-6, 7-6 (12), 6-3
6. Daniel Santos (TULSA) def. Reece Acree (UCF) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition
1. Chris Barrus/Inaki Espindola (UCF) vs. Dylan McCloskey/Or Ram-Harel (TULSA) 5-4, unfinished
2. Matthew Kirby/Carlos Bautista (TULSA) def. Francesc Aulina/Reece Acree (UCF) 6-4
3. Juan Matias Gonzalez/Daniel Santos (TULSA) def. Mariano Porter/Jesse Flores (UCF) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,4,3,6,5,1)