ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - After a two-week layoff, the UCF men's tennis team extended its winning streak to four matches on Wednesday night with a 5-2 decision over Stetson at the USTA National Campus.
UCF (4-2) head coach John Roddick switched up the doubles pairings for the first time this season. Alan Rubio joined Mikhail Sokolovskiy at No. 2 and cruised in their match. The rookie duo made quick work of Malik Bhatnagar and Loic Blanco to the tune of 6-1.
At No. 3, Danny Kerznerman and Gabriel Decamps teamed up to clinch the opening point for the Black and Gold with a 7-5 win over Linus Bergevi and William Shkrob.
No. 1 duo Korey Lovett and Eero Vasa, the lone unchanged pairing, needed a tiebreak to beat Angus Bradshaw and Antoine Sanchez, 7-5(2), and sweep doubles for the Knights.
As play progressed into singles action, Sokolovskiy kept up the momentum at No. 4. The rookie from Russia wasted little time downing Sanchez in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
The Hatters (5-2) leveled the match with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Bhatnagar edged Lovett in two sets, 6-4, 6-4, and Blanco outlasted Decamps over three sets, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
The final three matches of the night went the distance. At No. 3, Rubio defeated Bradshaw, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, in a back-and-forth contest to bring the Knights within one point of clinching.
After dropping the opening frame against Bergevi, Kerznerman was nearly unstoppable at No. 5. The native of Brooklyn won 12 of the next 14 games to clinch the match behind a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 performance.
Enrique Paya, playing in his first contest of the year, rounded out the night with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(2) victory over Shkrob.
UP NEXT
The Knights will not play again until Saturday, March 3, against Michigan. The match will be a part of the College MatchDay series and will be televised on the Tennis Channel.
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UCF 5, Stetson 2
Singles competition
1. Malik Bhatnagar (STET) def. Korey Lovett (UCF-M) 6-4, 6-4
2. Loic Blanco (STET) def. Gabriel DeCamps (UCF-M) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
3. #80 Alan Rubio (UCF-M) def. Angus Bradshaw (STET) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
4. Mikhail Sokolovskiy (UCF-M) def. Antoine Sanchez (STET) 6-4, 6-3
5. Danny Kerznerman (UCF-M) def. Linus Bergevi (STET) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
6. Enrique Paya (UCF-M) def. William Shkrob (STET) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2)
Doubles competition
1. #23 Korey Lovett/Eero Vasa (UCF-M) def. Malik Bhatnagar/Loic Blanco (STET) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Alan Rubio/Mikhail Sokolovskiy (UCF-M) def. Angus Bradshaw/Antoine Sanchez (STET) 6-1
3. Danny Kerznerman/Gabriel DeCamps (UCF-M) def. William Shkrob/Linus Bergevi (STET) 7-5