Box Score (.pdf)
Spartanburg, S.C. – In a contest that went down to the third set of the final match, the USC Upstate men's tennis team dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Wednesday evening in ASUN action from the USC Upstate Tennis Complex.
Upstate falls to 5-12 on the season and 1-2 in conference play, while Florida Gulf Coast improves to 6-9 overall and 2-1 in the league.
"Obviously this one really hurt to lose, but it was definitely one of the craziest, most fun and intense matches I have ever been involved in," said assistant coach Tim McLane. "The level that both teams played was worthy of a championship match. We have been in a bunch of these tight battles and every time we get better because of it. We are going to learn from this, work on a couple of things over the next week and get right back to work."
The Spartans started off on the right foot and took an early 1-0 lead over the Eagles after securing the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. In the No. 3 doubles match, Ankush Arora and Francisco Neto got things started for Upstate with a 6-2 win over Austin Bates and Javier Fernandez. The Spartans dropped the No. 2 match before Fernando Bernardes and Ignacio Garrido, playing at No. 1 doubles, defeated Oliver Landert and Felipe Ramirez 7-6(3) to win the point.
Florida Gulf Coast went on to win four of the six singles matches to earn the 4-3 victory. The Spartans captured matches at No. 5 and No. 6 singles. Garrido extended his singles winning streak to six straight matches after he topped Fernandez in straight sets 6-2, 7-5. In the No. 6 singles match, Neto held off Bates in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
Upstate steps out of conference play on Saturday, April 1 as it travels to Appalachian State for a 2 p.m. match.
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Tennis Match Results
Singles competition
1. RAMIREZ, Felipe (FGCU) def. Felix Ewers (UPST) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. RUIZ, Mateo (FGCU) def. Lenhard Haupt (UPST) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. ALFONZO, Andres (FGCU) def. Ankush Arora (UPST) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
4. CERRINI, Ezequiel (FGCU) def. Fernando Bernardes (UPST) 6-4, 6-1
5. Ignacio Garrido (UPST) def. FERNANDEZ, Javier (FGCU) 6-2, 7-5
6. Francisco Neto (UPST) def. BATES, Austin (FGCU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Fernando Bernardes/Ignacio Garrido (UPST) def. LANDERT, Oliver/RAMIREZ, Felipe (FGCU) 7-6 (3-0)
2. ALFONZO, Andres/CERRINI, Ezequiel (FGCU) def. Felix Ewers/Lenhard Haupt (UPST) 6-3
3. Ankush Arora/Francisco Neto (UPST) def. BATES, Austin/FERNANDEZ, Javier (FGCU) 6-2
Match Notes
Florida Gulf Coast 6-9, 2-1 ASUN
USC Upstate 5-12, 1-2 ASUN
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,5,1,6,2,3)
