Feb. 7, 2016
Final Stats
UCF-Louisiana Stats| Final Stats
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF men's tennis team held the momentum from start to finish in a 4-1 victory over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. The Knights fed off the energy from the crowd to earn the first victory of the season at the UCF Tennis Complex on Sunday afternoon.
"It was an awesome, complete team effort today," assistant coach Brandon Stokes said. "We needed that; we've been working towards that. We played in front of the best crowd and we hope that continues all season. All three courts in doubles were rolling and it was great to win the doubles point. Then we kept the momentum going by winning the first set on four of the six courts in singles."
UCF (1-3) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after doubles. Juniors Inaki Espindola and Chris Barrus posted the first Black and Gold victory of the day with a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles. Senior Jose Sangroniz and sophomore Tyler Pate clinched the point for the Knights with a 6-3 win on court two.
"I felt that, even in warmups, we came out ready to play," sophomore Tyler Pate said. "When we came out in doubles, we had a lot of energy on our side and a major home crowd advantage, which was nice. It was a great day to be a Knight today."
Louisiana evened things up with a win on court six, but the Knights reclaimed the lead with a 6-3, 6-1 win from sophomore Nico De Fraia at No. 5 singles. Espindola extended the lead with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2, giving UCF a 3-1 advantage in front of its home crowd.
Junior Mariano Porter delivered the victory with a straight-set win on court four. His 6-4, 6-3 win over Vlad Kramarov sealed the first UCF victory of the spring.
"I'm very happy that I was able to clinch," Porter said. "We were prepared from the beginning; we were very confident. Everyone had energy. It was a good match. Louisiana was tough, so this should help us for our future matches."
UCF saw its largest crowd of the season at the UCF Tennis Complex and fed off the energy from the stands.
"It was a great showing by Sigma Pi," junior Arjun Watane said. "They were very instrumental in helping us clinch the doubles point, giving everyone energy. They supported Jose (Sangroniz) and helped Mariana (Porter) clinch. They created a great atmosphere for tennis today."
The Knights continue home action on Feb. 13. UCF hosts North Florida at 10:30 a.m. at the UCF Tennis Complex
UCF 4, Louisiana 1
Singles competition
1. Jose Sangroniz (UCF) vs. Libaud, Arthur (UL) 5-7, 5-4, unfinished
2. Inaki Espindola (UCF) def. Wynan, Jake (UL) 6-4, 6-3
3. Chris Barrus (UCF) vs. Lopez, Edgar (UL) 1-6, 6-2, 2-5, unfinished
4. Mariano Porter (UCF) def. Kramarov, Vlad (UL) 6-4, 6-3
5. Nico De Fraia (UCF) def. Huyton, Will (UL) 6-3, 6-1
6. Perez, Eric (UL) def. Reece Acree (UCF) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Chris Barrus/Inaki Espindola (UCF) def. Perez, Eric/Lopez, Edgar (UL) 6-2
2. Tyler Pate/Jose Sangroniz (UCF) def. Huyton, Will/Libaud, Arthur (UL) 6-3
3. Kramarov, Vlad/Wynan, Jake (UL) vs. Mariano Porter/Jack Thiessen (UCF) 4-4, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (6,5,2,4)
Story by Megan Herboth; Photos by Brad Helton