March 13, 2016
Final Stats
UCF - Cleveland State stats
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The men's tennis team rallied to win every singles match and top Cleveland State, 6-1, at the UCF Tennis Complex on Sunday morning.
(Cleveland State) controlled us in doubles with energy and execution, assistant coach Brandon Stokes said. Our team responded by competing smart and hard to secure the first set in all six singles courts. We are proud of their focus and fight.
The Vikings claimed the doubles points with wins at No. 1 and No. 2, taking a 1-0 lead in the match.
UCF (6-8) shifted the momentum heading into singles play, as each Knights won his opening set.
Junior Reece Acree evened the score with a straight set win at No. 5. He topped Benjamin Slade, 6-3, 6-2, to make it a 1-1 match
It felt great to get us back even and begin our streak in singles, Acree said. Today was a good win, and we will use it going into practice this week before playing a good Georgia State team.
Junior Inaki Espindola pushed the Knights in front with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 1, and junior Chris Barrus gave UCF a 3-1 advantage with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles.
Sophomore Nico De Fraia won the tiebreaker to take his first set 7-6(3) at No. 4 singles. He used the momentum to cruise through his second set, 6-0, and clinched the team win.
It was great to clinch the second match this week, De Fraia said. I'm happy for the performance today, and we will keep working hard for the following matches.
Junior Mariano Porter followed with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles. Sophomore Tyler Pate completed the singles sweep with a 7-5, 6-3 win on court six.
The Knights are back in action on Wednesday, hosting Georgia State at 2 p.m. UCF wraps up its home stand on March 20, hosting UAS at 10 a.m.
Coaches Corner
Cleveland State is well-coached by Brian Etzkin. His teams have dominated the Horizon League recently, and they have a positive overall record this season again.
They controlled us in doubles with energy and execution.
Our team responded by competing smart and hard to secure the first set in all six singles courts. We are proud of their focus and fight.
It was our fourth match in seven days. We are healthy and fit, and excited to finish our March home stand next week with two more extremely tough teams.
Thank you to the fans today, and especially our Knights 'sisters,' the women's tennis team who represented well. We appreciate the loyal and consistent support at home. It is a huge advantage for our team.
UCF 6, Cleveland State 1
Singles competition
1. Inaki Espindola (UCF) def. Joe VanMeter (CSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Chris Barrus (UCF) def. Colton Buffington (CSU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Mariano Porter (UCF) def. Mirko Radosevic (CSU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Nico De Fraia (UCF) def. Kevin Goth (CSU) 7-6 (3), 6-0
5. Reece Acree (UCF) def. Benjamin Slade (CSU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Tyler Pate (UCF) def. Andre Mick (CSU) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Colton Buffington/Kevin Goth (CSU) def. Chris Barrus/Inaki Espindola (UCF) 6-3
2. Mirko Radosevic/Benjamin Slade (CSU) def. Nico De Fraia/Tyler Pate (UCF) 6-2
3. Reece Acree/Jack Thiessen (UCF) vs. Joe VanMeter/William Malm (CSU) 4-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,1,2,4,3,6)
Story by Megan Herboth; Photos by Brad Helton