Nov. 5, 2015
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Six Knights found success in singles action on the first day of the 2015 USTA Collegiate Clay Court Invitational, hosted by Florida State at the ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Related: Tournament Central
Junior Chris Barrus claimed a first round victory over Pepperdine's Gabriel Sidney, 6-4, 6-3, in the Gold singles flight.
In the Garnet singles flight, junior Inaki Espindola, seeded sixth, found success over Gerhard Gruindelingh of South Alabama, 6-3, 6-0. Also in the same flight, sophomore Tyler Pate downed Jack Haffey of FSU, 6-4, 6-4.
After dropping the first set 6-4 to Stetson's Gonzalo Arroyo, junior Reece Acree battled back in the second set, winning the tiebreaker 7-6(1). Acree earned the victory with a 6-1 victory in the third set.
Senior Jose Sangroniz claimed a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Georgia Tech's Daniel Yun in Garnet singles, while freshman Jack Thiessen earned a 7-6, 2-6, 6-1 over Penn State's Nika Dolidze.
The doubles duo of Pate and junior Arjun Watane were victorious over Wood Benton and Yancy Dennis of South Carolina, 8-3.
UCF continues action on the courts of ESPN Wide World of Sports on Friday. Sunday's championship matches can be seen on ESPN3.
Gold Singles
Rd. of 32 Chris Barrus (UCF) def. Gabriel Sidney (PU) 6-4, 6-3
Rd. of 32 Harrison O'Keefe (USC) def. (3) Mariano Porter (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
Garnet Singles
Rd. of 32 (1) Thomas Hanzlik (PSU) def. Nico De Fraia (UCF) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
Rd. of 32 (6) Inaki Espindola (UCF) def. Gerhard Gruindelingh (USA) 6-3, 6-0
Rd. of 32 Tyler Pate (UCF) def. Jack Haffey (FSU) 6-4, 6-4
Rd. of 32 Reece Acree (UCF) def. Gonzalo Arroyo (SU) 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-1
Rd. of 32 Jose Sangroniz (UCF) def. Daniel Yun (GT) 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
Rd. of 32 Jack Thiessen (UCF) def. Nika Dolidze (Penn State) 7-6, 2-6, 6-1
Rd. of 32 Kevin Dondar (Miami) def. Arjun Watane (UCF) 6-3, 6-2
Garnet Doubles
Tyler Pate / Arjun Watane (UCF) def. Wood Benton / Yancy Dennis (S. Carolina), 8-3
Pedro Iamachkine/Lautaro Pane (Pepperdine) def. Reece Acree / Jack Thiessen (UCF), 8-6
Gold Doubles
[3] Jose Gracia/Marco Nunez (FSU) def. Christopher Barrus / Inaki Espindola (UCF), 8-3
Matt Barry/Aws Laaribi (Penn State) def. Nico De Fraia/Mariano Porter (UCF), 8-4
Story by Becca Burkhardt; Photos by Brad Helton