TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The No. 47 UCF men's tennis team upended in-state foe No. 29 Florida State, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Speicher Tennis Center. The Black and Gold improved its record to 11-5 this season.
"We played a solid match today against a good Florida State team," head coach John Roddick said. "Our doubles was better and we did a great job of closing our matches in singles. Our guys have worked very hard and really earned this win today."
This is the third time this season that UCF has defeated a Top-30 opponent.
The Knights clinched the doubles point. On court one, redshirt senior Harrison Richmond and senior Mariano Porter paired together to down No. 71 Guy Iradukunda and Aziz Dougaz, 6-4. Junior Korey Lovett and junior Danny Kerznerman added the final doubles victory with a 7-5 win over Lucas Poullain and Jose Garcia at No. 2 doubles.
In singles, UCF went down early after dropping a tough match at No. 1. Kerznerman never lost the lead and put the Knights back in the lead after defeating No. 125 Iradukunda, 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Richmond added the third overall point for the Knights with a 6-3, 6-1 victory against Poullain on the third court. With a 6-3, 6-3 victory Chris Barrus clinched the match for the Black and Gold at the fifth position.
The Knights partake in the War on I-4 against in-state rival No. 27 South Florida on Saturday, April 1 at 6 p.m., at the USTA National Campus.
Results (Order of Finish)
Doubles (3,1,2)
1). Harrison Richmond/ Mariano Porter (UCF) d. No. 71 Guy Iradukunda/ Aziz Dougaz (FSU), 6-4
2). Korey Lovett/ Danny Kerznerman (UCF) d. Lucas Poullain/ Jose Garcia (FSU), 7-5
3). Terrance Whitehurst/ Terrell Whitehurst (FSU) d. Chris Barrus/ Enrique Paya (UCF), 6-3
Singles (2,1,3,5)
1). No. 52 Aziz Dougaz (FSU) d. No. 63 Korey Lovett (UCF), 6-4, 6-4
2). Danny Kerznerman (UCF) d. No. 125 Guy Iradukunda (FSU), 6-3, 6-1
3). Harrison Richmond (UCF) d. Lucas Poullain (FSU), 6-3, 6-1
4). Jose Garcia (FSU) vs. Mariano Porter (UCF), 6-0, 4-6, 1-0 unfinished
5). Chris Barrus (UCF) d. Rana Roop Bhullar (FSU), 6-3, 6-3
6). Terrance Whitehurst (FSU) vs. Kalman Boyd (UCF), 6-3, 5-4 unfinished