DALLAS, TX (UCFKnights.com) - The No. 3 seed UCF men's tennis team came up short Saturday in the American Athletic Conference Tournament, falling 4-2 to No. 2 seed Tulane in the semifinals from the SMU Tennis Complex.
The Knights (11-10, 1-2) were looking to advance to the AAC Tournament finals for the second straight year, after taking down Tulsa 4-3 in their quarterfinal match Friday, but will now have to wait and see if their season will continue with an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
UCF began their semifinal match with another strong showing in doubles play. Alan Rubio and Enrique Paya got the day going with a 6-1 win at No. 2. Danny Kerznerman and Gabriel Decamps provided the clincher at No. 3. The duo took down Luis Erlenbusch and Tim Ruetzel, 6-2 to give the Black and Gold and early 1-0 lead.
Singles play began with three straight wins by Tulane (17-6, 3-1). Erlenbusch took down Mikhail Sokolovskiy 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4. Constantin Schmitz beat Korey Lovett 6-4, 6-4 at No.1 and Tyler Schick got past Eero Vasa, 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 at No. 5.
The Knights attempted to rally in the remaining matches, beginning with Danny Kerznerman taking down Ruetzel 6-2, 6-4 at No. 6. The senior's win cut Tulane's lead to 3-2, but would be the last point UCF would claim on the day.
The clincher for the Green Wave came at No. 3, with Hamish Stewart taking down Rubio 6-1, 7-6 to send Tulane to the Conference Championship, where they will take on USF for the title.
The NCAA Tournament selection show will take place May 1, where the Knights will wait and see if they get an at-large bid to continue their season.
| DOUBLESOrder of finish: 2, 3 | |||||||||
| DOUBLES #1 - DNF | |||||||||
| Constantin Schmitz / Ewan Moore (Tulane) | 4 | ||||||||
| Kory Lovett / Eero Vasa (UCF) | 4 | ||||||||
| DOUBLES #2 | |||||||||
| Hamish Stewart / Tyler Schick (Tulane) | 1 | ||||||||
| Alan Rubio / Enrique Paya (UCF) | 6 | ||||||||
| DOUBLES #3 | |||||||||
| Luis Erlenbusch / Tim Ruetzel (Tulane) | 2 | ||||||||
| Danny Kerznerman / Gabriel Decamps (UCF) | 6 | ||||||||
| SINGLESOrder of finish: 4, 1, 5, 6, 3 | |||||||||
| SINGLES #1 | |||||||||
| Constantin Schmitz (Tulane) | 6 | 6 | - | ||||||
| Korey Lovett (UCF) | 4 | 4 | - | ||||||
| SINGLES #2 | |||||||||
| Ewan Moore (Tulane) | 6 | 5 | - | ||||||
| Gabriel Decamps (UCF) | 3 | 3 | - | ||||||
| SINGLES #3 | |||||||||
| Hamish Stewart (Tulane) | 6 | 7 | - | ||||||
| Alan Rubio (UCF) | 1 | 6 (3) | - | ||||||
| SINGLES #4 | |||||||||
| Luis Erlenbusch (Tulane) | 6 | 6 | - | ||||||
| Mikhail Sokolovskiy (UCF) | 2 | 2 | - | ||||||
| SINGLES #5 | |||||||||
| Tyler Schick (Tulane) | 1 | 6 | 6 | ||||||
| Eero Vasa (UCF) | 6 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| SINGLES #6 | |||||||||
| Tim Ruetzel (Tulane) | 2 | 4 | - | ||||||
| Danny Kerznerman (UCF) | 6 | 6 | - | ||||||
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