TULSA, Okla. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 38 UCF men's tennis team opened up American Athletic Conference play victorious on the road Friday, as the Knights took down Tulsa 5-2 at the Case Tennis Center.
"We played a very good doubles point tonight," said UCF Director of Tennis, John Roddick. "We competed well and did a good job of staying aggressive."
UCF (10-7, 1-0) has been able to set the tempo in doubles with strong play at the top from one of the nation's best tandems.
The Oracle/ITA Division I No. 10 nationally ranked doubles pair of Korey Lovett and Eero Vasa flexed their muscle versus the No. 53 duo of Joshua Goodger and Jarod Hing. Lovett and Vasa earned win number 12 on the season with a 6-4 victory.
The Knights would take a 1-0 lead over Tulsa (10-15, 1-3) after Enrique Paya and Alan Rubio cruised to a 6-3 win over Lucca Baptista and Majed Kilani at No. 2
Singles play began with a stout effort by Gabriel DeCamps at No. 2. The freshman was too much for the No. 95 ranked singles player, Joshua Goodger, earning a 6-4, 6-3 win.
Mikhail Sokolovskiy followed suit with a straight sets win at No. 4. The Russian native took down Hing, 7-5, 6-3 to put the Knights one point away from clinching.
Alan Rubio gave UCF that fourth point with his win at No. 3. Rubio was pushed to three sets, but outlasted Baptista, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
The remaining three matches were played out to conclusion. No. 114 Kilani beat Lovett at No. 1, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Vasa defeated Mitchell Pritchard, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 at No. 5 and Boriss Kamdem took down Danny Kerznerman, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 at No. 6 to round out play.
UP NEXT
The Knights will continue their conference road trip with a visit to Memphis Sunday, April 8 for a noon match.
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#38 UCF 5, Tulsa 2
Singles Competition
1. #114 Majed Kilani (TU) def. Korey Lovett (UCF) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
2. Gabriel DeCamps (UCF) def. #95 Joshua Goodger (TU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Alan Rubio (UCF) def. Lucca Baptista (TU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
4. Mikhail Sokolovskiy (UCF) def. Jarod Hing (TU) 7-5, 6-3
5. Eero Vasa (UCF) def. Mitchell Pritchard (TU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
6. Boriss Kamdem (TU) def. Danny Kerznerman (UCF) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. #10 Korey Lovett/Eero Vasa (UCF) def. #53 Joshua Goodger/Jarod Hing (TU) 6-4
2. Enrique Paya/Alan Rubio (UCF) def. Lucca Baptista/Majed Kilani (TU) 6-3
3. Louis Corker/Mitchell Pritchard (TU) vs. Mikhail Sokolovskiy/Gabriel DeCamps (UCF) 5-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
UCF 10-7; National ranking #38
Tulsa 10-15
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,4,3,1,5,6)
