ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF men's tennis team fell in a tough loss to Nebraska by a score of 3-4 on Wednesday, March 16, at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
In doubles action, Bogdan Pavel and Trey Hilderbrand came out strong and was victorious over Victor Lozano Moreno and Nic Wiedenhorn on court one but No. 60 Lleyton Cronje and Cooper White vs Dario Huber and Shunya Maruyama were unable to get an edge as they fell 4-6.
It came down to court three, in yet another tiebreaker. Alan Rubio and JC Roddick were up most of the match, but Calvin Mueller and Patrick Cacciatore brought it back to tie it at six all. The Knights grabbed the first three points of the tiebreak before the Huskers shifted momentum. UCF had a match point at 6-5, but Nebraska kept the pressure and won it at 8-6.
In singles play, Quinn Snyder fell first by a score of 2-6, 2-6 to Roni Hietaranta on court six, giving the Huskers a 2-0 lead. But on court one, Lleyton Cronje had control over Calvin Mueller all the way, winning in 6-3, 6-2, to put a point on the board for the Knights, 1-2.
No. 61 Trey Hilderbrand was then unable to overcome Dario Huber on court two, falling 4-6, 4-6 as Nebraska was one court away from the win, 3-1.
But the Knights got the next two courts.
Alan Rubio continued his streak with a big 6-1, 6-3 win over Nic Wiedenhorn on court four while on court five, JC Roddick defeated William Gleason 7-6(5), 6-3, tying the match at three all.
It all came down to court three as Bogdan Pavel was in a battle against Shunya Maruyama. Pavel had dropped his first set in a tough tiebreak, 7-6(5), but was making a strong move in the second set as he was up early, 5-4. But Nebraska was able to get the 7-5 second set win and clinch the 4-3 match.
UP NEXT
The Knights will be back on Friday, March 18, to face Illinois at home from the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
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