Jan. 9, 2016
UCF Spring Invitational (1/9/16) - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Weather delayed the UCF men's tennis team by a day and a couple of hours, but the Knights had a strong showing on the opening day of the UCF Spring Invitational. UCF claimed 15 singles wins and three doubles victories at the UCF Tennis Complex on Saturday.
The exhibition round-robin tournament began with doubles action. The Knights collected three victories. In the Black draw, junior Chris Barrus and freshman Jack Thiessen defeated The Citadel's Matthew Henson and Michael Anzalone, 8-2.
In the Gold draw, senior Jose Sangroniz and junior Arjun Watane defeated Florida A&M's Okungbowa and Skoromny, 8-6. Sophomores Nico De Fraia and Tyler Pate added to UCF's doubles wins with an 8-0 victory over The Citadel's Connor Grady and Joe Bove.
In the first round of the Black draw's singles action, junior Mariano Porter defeated The Citadel's Artemie Amari in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. Junior Reece Acree came from behind to earn a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 win over FAMU's Carlos Waitman. Barrus claimed a 6-2, 6-3 win against FAMU's Okungbowa and Sangroniz captured a 7-6(6), 6-3 win over The Citadel's Nicholas Bradley.
In the opening round of the Gold draw singles, all four Knights won in straight sets. Pate won 6-2, 6-2 against FAMU's Skoromny; De Fraia defeated FAMU's Hasona, 6-2, 6-2. Watane handled The Citadel's Bove, 6-0, 6-2, and Thiessen downed The Citadel's Davis, 6-1, 6-1.
In the second round of the Black draw singles, Porter made quick work of The Citadel's Bradley, 6-3, 6-0. Barrus defeated FAMU's Small in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Sangroniz closed out the day with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over The Citadel's Amari.
The second round of Gold singles featured four straight-set UCF victories. Thiessen continued his strong showing, defeating The Citadel's Hobson, 6-2, 6-0. Pate gave the Knights another victory over the Bulldogs, defeating Bove, 6-0, 6-1. Watane and De Fraia swept a pair of FAMU opponents. Watane downed Skoromny, 6-1, 6-3, while De Fraia defeated Ulacio, 6-0, 6-1.
The UCF Spring Invitational concludes on Sunday. Doubles action begins at 8:30 at the UCF Tennis Complex.
Story by Megan Herboth; Photos by Brad Helton