No. 18 Men's Tennis Sweeps No. 48 Utah, Advances to Big 12 SemifinalsNo. 18 Men's Tennis Sweeps No. 48 Utah, Advances to Big 12 Semifinals

No. 18 Men's Tennis Sweeps No. 48 Utah, Advances to Big 12 Semifinals

by Alex Clough

WACO, Texas - In the nightcap of an action-packed day at the Hurd Tennis Center, No. 18 UCF men’s tennis swept its way into the Big 12 Championship semifinals, defeating fifth-seeded Utah in convincing fashion.

In just their second season in the conference, the Knights punched their ticket into the final four courtesy of a dominating display through singles and doubles. 

Nearly a month removed from a 4-1 triumph against the Utes in Salt Lake City, the contest’s opening point authored a similar tale with a happier ending for the Knights. Both squads split the front and anchor courts, with UCF bouncing back after a Yassine Dlimi and Emilio Sanchez defeat on one to claim three. 

Paul Colin and Nicolas Oliveira tallied their third win in five matches together, consistently breaking Utah’s Nicolas Calixto and Emmet Potter. The momentum carried over into the rubber court, as Mehdi Benchakroun and Santiago Giamichelle were embarking on yet another tiebreak with the Utes.

A 7-5 defeat in Utah seemed to be long in the rear view mirror, coming out of the break level at three-all with a new purpose, taking the next four points to secure the Knights an early advantage. The victory marks the 14th for the tandem this season, improving a 6-4 clip on the second court.

Singles saw the Black and Gold expand on their position, taking four first sets, two on the front courts and two on the back. Having taken three of his last five duels on court one, 82nd-ranked Dlimi was emphatic in his performance against Utah’s Berk Bugarikij, 6-1, 6-2, to double UCF’s lead.

Oliveira continued his strong run of form, rebounding after falling in an early 3-0 hole in the first set to outplay Charles Frey 13-5 from then on out, taking court six, 7-5, 6-3. The freshman holds a 5-1 record across his last seven, showing steady growth through his first collegiate campaign.

While Giamichelle and Colin were looking to force their contests into a third set, Benchakroun and Sanchez were striving to send fans home as they tallied second-set leads. It was the former who claimed his team-leading sixth clinch of the season on court two, as the Moroccan prevailed against Reid Jarvis, 6-3, 7-5, after breaking the Ute late in the second set.

UP NEXT

A sixth top-10 meeting awaits for the squad in the semifinals, facing reigning national champions No. 2 TCU tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. ET.

Singles Results

  1. No. 82 Yassine Dlimi (UCF) def. Berk Bugarikij (UTAH) 6-1, 6-2
  2. No. 80 Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) Reid Jarvis (UTAH) 6-3, 7-5
    3. Paul Colin (UCF) vs. Dante Teramo (UTAH) 6-7(4), 1-2, unfinished
  3. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) vs. Emmett Potter (UTAH) 4-6, 5-4, unfinished
    5. Emilio Sanchez (UCF) vs. Max Relic (UTAH) 6-3, 5-5
    6. Nicolas Oliveira (UCF) Charles Frey (UTAH) 7-5, 6-3

Doubles Results

  1. No. 67 Reid Jarvis/Dante Teramo (UTAH) def. Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) 6-3

2. Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Berk Bugarikij/Max Relic (UTAH) 7-6(3)
3. Paul Colin/Nicolas Oliveira (UCF) def. Nicolas Calixto/Emmett Potter (UTAH) 6-3