FORT WORTH, Texas (UCFKnights.com) -- The No. 48 UCF men's tennis team fell, 4-1, to a tough TCU team on Saturday afternoon at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
"TCU played a good match today," said head coach John Roddick. "We had some chances, but didn't capitalize often enough. We are looking forward to more opportunities this weekend."
In doubles action on court two, UCF's Chris Barrus and Enrique Paya were all tied up at 4-4 with No. 14-ranked Guillermo Nunez and Alex Rybakov. But the TCU duo took a 5-4 lead and didn't look back. On the top doubles court, Korey Lovett and Harrison Richmond paired together to defeat Reese Stalder and Jerry Lopez, 6-3, for the Knights only victory in doubles. A TCU victory on court three allowed the Horned Frogs to take the doubles point and an early 1-0 lead.
In singles action, UCF's Danny Kerznerman came out swinging and made quick work of Gianni Mancini, 6-1, 6-1, to put UCF on the board, making the score 2-1.
TCU then won its matches on courts two and three to secure the victory. On courts four and five, Barrus and Mariano Porter were in tight matches, but did not finish. Barrus had dropped the first set, in a tiebreaker, but led 3-1 when the match ended. Porter also dropped his first set, but led 6-5 in the second as the match came to a close.
The Knights take on SMU, their first American Athletic Conference opponent this season at 2 p.m. Sunday at the SMU Tennis Complex.
Results (Order of Finish):
Doubles (3,1,2)
1) Korey Lovett/ Harrison Richmond (UCF) d. Reese Stalder/ Jerry Lopez (TCU), 6-3
2) #14 Guillermo Nunez/ Alex Rybakov (TCU) d. Chris Barrus/ Enrique Paya (UCF), 6-4
3) Cameron Norrie/ Gianni Mancini (TCU) d. Danny Kerznerman/ Mariano Porter (UCF), 6-0
Singles (1,6,3,2)
1). #19 Cameron Norrie (TCU) d. #93 Korey Lovett (UCF), 6-2, 6-1
2). Alex Rybakov (TCU) d. Harrison Richmond (UCF), 6-3, 6-2
3). #112 Guillermo Nunez (TCU) d. Enrique Paya (UCF), 6-3, 6-2
4). Jerry Lopez (TCU) vs. Chris Barrus (UCF), 7-6 (6-3), 1-3, unfinished
5). Reese Stalder (TCU) vs. Mariano Porter (UCF), 6-0, 5-6, unfinished
6). Danny Kerznerman (UCF) d. Gianni Mancini (TCU), 6-1, 6-1