SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's tennis team claimed a 6-1 win over visiting Jacksonville in Atlantic Sun Conference men's tennis action Saturday afternoon at the Upstate Tennis Complex.
With the win, the Spartans improve to 7-10 overall and 3-2 in A-Sun play, while Jacksonville dips to 2-8 overall and 0-3 in the A-Sun.
Upstate started the match much better than it did yesterday against North Florida, as the Spartans were able to claim the doubles point against Jacksonville with a pair of victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. At the No. 1 position, reigning A-Sun Player of the Week Ramiro Blanco teamed with Matias Di Pasquale to come up with an 8-5 win.
Jacksonville's Fernando Bano Lopez and Lance Lvovsky were able to overcome Gianluca Paino and Marco Linconir, 8-4, at the No.3 flight.
Upstate's Edgar Rodriguez, who continues to nurse a shin injury and a sprained ankle suffered a couple of weeks ago in a match at South Carolina, combined with Gonzalo Blanco at the No. 2 position to claim an 8-4 win over Jacksonville's Larry Condez and Jose Fantova. Rodriguez would later be forced to retire as a result of his injury for the second straight day at the No. 1 singles position. Rodriguez was locked in a 5-5 first-set thriller with Jacksonville's Fantova, before being forced to retire.
"My shin is still bothering me some, but I feel like this team, despite the injuries has battled hard all season," said Rodriguez. "Yesterday's loss was tough, but we came out and played for each other today and it was a good win."
In other singles play, Ramiro Blanco was forced into a tiebreaker at the No. 2 position by Jacksonville's Fernando Bano-Lopez. Lopez claimed the first set against Blanco, claiming a 6-2 result. However, Blanco responded strong in the second set, blanking Bano Lopez, 6-0 and won the tiebreaker in resounding fashion, 10-3. Upstate also got a hard-fought win at the No. 3 position, as Di Pasquale was able to fend off Condez, 7-5, 6-3.
The Spartans shut the door on the Dolphins with victories at the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 positions to close out the match and earn their third A-Sun win of the season.
"As I said yesterday, this team cares for each other and I think it showed today," said head coach Oliver Trittenwein. "The tradition and foundation that the Upstate tennis program has built over the years means a lot to these guys. That's why you see guys playing through pain and bringing that warrior-like mentality out here every week. They know that the task of upholding the tradition is now in their hands."
The Spartans will return to the action on Sunday, March 20, when they travel to Rock Hill, S.C., for the final non-conference tilt of the season. The match between Upstate and Winthrop is slated for 2:00 p.m. traveling to Rock Hill, S.C for a non-conference match against Big South foe Winthrop. The first serve for that match is set for 2 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
Jacksonville vs USC Upstate
Mar 12, 2011 at Spartanburg, S.C.
(USC Upstate Tennis Complex)
USC Upstate 6, Jacksonville 1
Singles competition
1. Jose Fantova (JU) def. Edgar Rodriguez (UPSTM) 5-5, retired
2. Ramiro Blanco (UPSTM) def. Fernando Bano Lopez (JU) 2-6, 6-0, 10-3
3. Matias Di Pasquale (UPSTM) def. Larry Condez (JU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Gonzalo Blanco (UPSTM) def. Lance Lvovsky (JU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Marco Linconir (UPSTM) def. Logan Shalmi (JU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Gianluca Paino (UPSTM) def. Matthew Hansen (JU) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Ramiro Blanco/Matias Di Pasquale (UPSTM) def. Matthew Hansen/Logan Shalmi (JU) 8-5
2. Edgar Rodriguez/Gonzalo Blanco (UPSTM) def. Jose Fantova/Larry Condez (JU) 8-4
3. Fernando Bano Lopez/Lance Lvovsky (JU) def. Gianluca Paino/Marco Linconir (UPSTM) 8-4
Match Notes:
Jacksonville 2-8, 0-3 A-Sun
USC Upstate 7-10, 3-2 A-Sun
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,5,4,3,6,2)
