DALLAS, Texas (UCFKnights.com)—The No. 48 UCF men's tennis team dropped a hard-fought match to No. 29 SMU on Sunday at the SMU Tennis Complex. The Knights fell 4-2 to the Mustangs.
"We lost a tough one to SMU today," said head coach John Roddick. "They did a good job competing, but we have to close out matches when we are in the position to win. The match was in our hands. We have proven that we can compete with teams at a high level but we have to take advantage when we have the opportunities to win."
The match started with a tough doubles battle. The Black and Gold went back and forth for the first few games on all three courts. At 2-2 on the second and third court, SMU went on a four-game run to clinch the doubles point.
On the top doubles court, Harrison Richmond and Korey Lovett were going toe-to-toe with No. 42-ranked Hunter Johnson and Yates Johnson. The teams were on serve, 5-4 in favor of the Mustangs, when the point was clinched.
The Knights added their first point to the score when No. 93-ranked Lovett decisively downed No. 46 Ronald Slobodchikov, 6-2, 6-3.
The Black and Gold dropped two tight contests at the third and sixth positions. On court five, Danny Kerznerman collected his fourth-consecutive win. The 6-3, 6-4 victory put UCF within one point of the Mustangs.
Court two was in barnburner three-set match. Harrison Richmond took the first set, 6-3, from No. 51-ranked Hunter Johnson. Johnson came back and won the second-set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (12-10). The two players each held serve through the beginning of the first set. SMU was leading 3-2, when the match was clinched on court four.
The Knights wrap up their road trip against No. 11 Baylor on Monday at 4 p.m. Live stats and live video will be available for the match.
Results (Order of Finish)
Doubles (3,2)
1). No. 42 Hunter Johnson/Yates Johnson (SMU) vs. Harrison Richmond/ Korey Lovett (UCF), 5-4 unfinished
2). Markus Kerner/ Arkadijs Slobodkins (SMU) d. Chris Barrus/ Enrique Paya (UCF), 6-2
3). Tony Russell/ Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU) d. Danny Kerznerman/ Mariano Porter (UCF), 6-2
Singles (1,6,3,5,4)
1). No. 93 Korey Lovett (UCF) d. No. 46 Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU), 6-2, 6-3
2). No. 51 Hunter Johnson (SMU) vs. Harrison Richmond (UCF), 3-6, 7-6 (12-10), 3-2 unfinished
3). Samm Butler (SMU) d. Enrique Paya (UCF), 6-1, 6-4
4). Markus Kerner (SMU) d. Chris Barrus (UCF), 6-7 (8-6), 6-4, 6-2
5). Danny Kerznerman (UCF) d. Arkadijs Slobodkins (SMU), 6-3, 6-4
6). Yates Johnson (SMU) d. Mariano Porter (UCF), 6-2, 6-3
