ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 40 UCF men's tennis team used strong doubles play and overpowering singles action to win its fourth straight match Wednesday at the USTA National Campus.
The Knights (8-6, 0-0) took down No. 38 Arkansas in their first of two matches this week.
"We came out with a lot of energy," said UCF Director of Tennis, John Roddick. "Here we are now on a little bit of a run and we just have to not be too happy about it, keep our heads down, and keep working on what we've been working on."
UCF opened up the night with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to capture the opening match point versus the Razorbacks (9-9, 2-4).
The Oracle/ITA Division I No. 7 ranked doubles duo of Korey Lovett and Eero Vasa defeated Adam Sanjurjo and Oscar Mesquida, 6-3. Alan Rubio and Enrique Paya took down Jose Salazar and Alex Reco, 6-4 to make it 1-0 for the Knights.
Singles action began with a victory for Arkansas. No. 65 ranked singles player, Jose Salazar took down Lovett at No. 1, 6-3, 6-2.
The Black and Gold responded at No. 2, when Gabriel DeCamps cruised past Adam Sanjurjo, 6-4, 6-2 to put the Knights back up 2-1.
Josh Howard-Tripp would tie the match back up at No. 4, with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Mikhail Sokolovskiy for the Razorbacks final win of the night.
Vasa would put UCF on the brink of victory at No. 5. The freshman fought off a late charge from Reco, ultimately winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
The Knights would clinch at No. 3, when Rubio battled back after dropping the first set to defeat Mesquida, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
UCF would earn one more point on the night at No. 6, with Danny Kerznerman beating Pedro Alonso 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
UP NEXT
The Knights will wrap up their home-stand Friday, March 23, when they welcome Princeton to the USTA National Campus for a 6 p.m. match.
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#40 UCF 5, #38 Arkansas 2
Singles Competition
1. #65 Jose Salazar (AR) def. Korey Lovett (UCF-M) 6-3, 6-2
2. Gabriel DeCamps (UCF-M) def. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-4, 6-2
3. Alan Rubio (UCF-M) def. Oscar Mesquida (AR) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
4. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) def. Mikhail Sokolovskiy (UCF-M) 6-3, 6-3
5. Eero Vasa (UCF-M) def. Alex Reco (AR) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Danny Kerznerman (UCF-M) def. Pedro Alonso (AR) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. #7 Korey Lovett/Eero Vasa (UCF-M) def. Adam Sanjurjo/Oscar Mesquida (AR) 6-3
2. Alan Rubio/Enrique Paya (UCF-M) def. Jose Salazar/Alex Reco (AR) 6-4
3. Danny Kerznerman/Gabriel DeCamps (UCF-M) vs. Jose Alonso/Pedro Alonso (AR) unfinished
Match Notes:
Arkansas 9-9; National ranking #38
UCF 8-6; National ranking #40
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,2,4,5,3,6)
